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NOTKS  LND  SUGGESTIONS 


KOK 


BIBLE  READINGS 


NOTES  AND  SUGGESTIONS 


FOR 


BIBLE  READINGS, 


EDITED  BY 


S.  R.  BRIGGS  AND  JOHN  H.  ELLIOTT. 


"  THESE  WERE  MORE  NOBLE  THAN  THOSE  AT  THESSALONICA,  IW  THAT  THEY 
RECEIVED  THE  WORD  WITH  ALL  READINESS  OF  MIND,  AND  SEARCHED  THE 
SCRIPTURES  DAILY,  WHETHER  THESE  THINGS  WERE   SO." — ActS  Y\\.  II. 

"SEARCH  THE  SCRIPTURES." 


SECOND  EDITION  REVISED. 


FIFTH  THOUSAND. 


>  7 


If 


^^Jdok 


CHICAGO: 

F.  H.  REVELL,  148  &  150  MADISON  ST., 
TORONTO :  WiLLARD  Tract  Repository. 


f/stoj 

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Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1879, 

Bt  F.  H.  REVELL, 

In  the  oflace  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


LC  Control  Number 


%m 


tnip96       025244 


PREFACE. 


The  object  of  the  present  publication  is  to  stimulate  to  a 
more  diligent  and  systematic  study  of  God's  Word. 

In  compiling  and  preparing  the  collection  of  "  Notes  for 
Eible  Readings"  herewith  presented  to  the  Christian  public, 
no  attempt  has  been  made  at  an  elaborate  arrangement  of 
subjects,  or  to  give  exhaustive  explanatory  notes  in  connection 
with  any  subject ;  but  the  aim  has  been  rather  to  collect  such 
7natter  as  would  prove  suggestive  and  awaken  further  study  and 
research  into  the  golden  depths  of  the  Word. 

A  large  amount  of  matter  has  been  added,  all  bearing  on 
Bible  reading,  Bible  study,  &c. ;  this  has  been  done  in  order  to 
give  the  best  thoughts  of  some  of  the  most  prominent  Bible 
students  and  Christian  workers  of  our  time,  upon  this  most 
important  Christian  duty  and  privilege. 

These  "  Notes "  have  been  gathered  from  various  sources  ; 
many  of  them  have  been  kindly  contributed  by  friends,  and 
others  are  clippings  from  different  religious  publications. 
Where  the  authors  are  known  their  names  or  initials  have 
been  given.  For  all  such  favors  the  parties  interested  will 
please  accept  the  thanks  of  the  editors. 


This  informal  volume  is  now  sent  out  with  a  prayer  that  the 
promised  teaching  of  the  Holy  Spirit  may  attend  its  use,  and  that 
through  its  instrumentality  many  may  be  led  to  the  Great  Teacher, 
many  led  to  an  entire  consecration,  and  to  a  deeper  and  more  atten- 
tive study  of  the  Word  of  God. 

S.  R.  BRIGGS. 
JOHN  H.  ELLIOTT. 


^^ntx0dnctovmf 


BIBLE  READINGS. 


BY   D.   W.    WHITTLE. 


ist.  How  prepared : 

Select  some  doctrine  or  exhortation  as  to  Christian  living,  prac- 
tical in  the  application,  and  exalting  Christ.  Among  such  subjects 
will  readily  occur  Grace,  Love,  Faith,  Redemption,  Sanctifica- 
tion,  the  Blood,  Prayer,  the  Two  Natures,  the  New  Birth,  Work, 
Warfare,  and  so  on.  Take  the  concordance  and  read,  with  prayer, 
all  the  passages  bearing  upon  the  topic  selected.  Get  full  yourself 
of  the  truth  taught.  Praise  God  by  yourself  and  for  yourself  for  its 
preciousness.  Then,  divide  your  topic  into  heads,  according  to 
its  natural  and  logical  divisions.  This  is  the  key  to  the  preparation 
of  an  interesting,  profitable,  and  instructive  reading.  The  bring- 
ing together  of  passages  in  a  jumble,  selecting  them  because  they 
all  contain  the  same  word,  cannot  interest  or  profit.  There  must 
be  order  and  a  development  of  thought  in  the  exhortation  of  doc- 
trine for  the  mind  to  receive  and  profit  by  it. 

The  reading  below  is  presented  as  suggesting  this  plan,  not  as 
the  best  execution  of  it. 

Be  careful  in  not  making  the  reading  too  long.  Better  to  di- 
vide your  topic  into  five  or  six  readings,  and  bring  out  the  Scrip- 
tures upon  each  head  to  your  own  satisfaction,  {than  to  crowd  too 
man}^  heads  into  one  reading.  You  will  find  the  instruction  thus 
given  more  easily  apprehended  and  more  carefully  retained.  The 
fault  with  most  of  us  lay  workers,  who  have  been  uninstructed  in 
logical  presentation  of  truth,  is  in  the  beginning  of  our  work  to 
make  our  readings  too  cumbersome.  My  first  Bible  reading  on 
Faith  contained  some  sixty  Scripture  references.  Before  they  were 
all  read  the  audience  were  tired,  and  it  was  a  source  of  anxiety  and 
difficulty  for  me  to  interest  them.  That  same  Bible  reading  pre- 
pared for  one  meeting  has  now  developed  into  seven,  given  as  a 
course,  at  seven  successive  meetings,  with  seeming  interest  and 
appreciation  on  the  part  of  the  people,  and  pleasure  to  myself. 

I  have  used  for  this  reading,  and  for  others,  as  a  matter  of 
convenience,  the  Scripture  suggestion  of  the  number  seven,  in 
making  up  the  heads  of  the  topics.  For  instance,  upon  Faith  the 
order  of  the  readings  and  their  divisions  is  as  follows  : 

I  St.  Seven  reasons  for  reasonableness  of  Faith  (all  Scripture 
texts.) 

2nd.  Seven  directions  as  to  how  Faith  is  received. 

3rd.  Seven  things  possessed  by  Faith. 


8  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS* 

4th.  Seven  fruits  of  Faith.' 

5th.  Seven  trials  of  Faith. 

6th.  Seven  things  said  of  those  without  Faith. 

7th.  Seven  triumphs  of  Faith. 

Two  or  three  Scripture  references  are  used  under  each  head, 
making  each  reading  consist  of  between  twenty  and  twenty-five 
texts. 

It  will,  of  course,  be  understood  that  this  subdivision  and  elabo- 
ration is  recommended  only  for  those  topics  that  in  the  nature  of 
the  case,  by  the  wide  scope  of  truth  embraced  by  them,  require 
it.  More  simple  topics  would  be  better  treated  condensed  into  one 
reading.  After  your  Scripture  texts  are  arranged,  endeavour  un- 
der each  one  of  your  headings  to  have  one  or  more  appropriate 
illustrations,  to  make  clear  the  truth  and  to  fasten  it  in  the 
memory. 

2nd.  How  to  give  Bible  readings. 

The  method  should  vary  with  the  character  of  the  audience  and 
the  circumstances  and  surroundings  of  the  meeting.  In  a  very 
large  audience  it  is  better  to  read  the  passages  yourself,  asking  the 
audience  to  turn  to  them  and  all  join  with  you  in  the  reading. 
Give  time  for  all  to  turn  to  the  passages,  and  read  slow  and  dis- 
tinct enough  for  all  to  join.  Pay  much  attention  to  emphasis 
in  reading.  The  proper  interpretation  of  the  text  will  often  be 
revealed  by  proper  emphasizing  of  the  words. 

In  a  small  audience,  in  a  lecture  room  where  persons  reading 
in  different  parts  of  the  room  can  be  readily  heard,  give  out  your 
references — one  text  to  a  person,  if  you  have  good  readers  enough, 
if  not,  two  or  more  texts  to  the  same  person.  Use  slips  of  paper 
in  giving  out  the  references.  Have  them  prepared  before  you  go  to 
the  meeting,  and  ask  some  one  who  is  acquainted  with  the 
audience  to  distribute  them  to  good  readers  as  you  are  singing  the 
opening  hymn,  or  (this  is  far  better)  before  you  commence  the 
exercises. 

It  is  not  safe  to  call  out  references  and  let  them  be  taken  by 
volunteers.  Some  will  have  wrong  passages  and  some  will  not  read 
distinctly.  The  slips  will  also  give  you  trouble  unless  the  person 
giving  them  out  is  judicious,  and  makes  each  one  who  receives  a 
slip  understand  that  they  are  to  read  the  passage  promptly  when 
called  for.  It  is  best  for  the  leader,  also,  as  he  opens  the  meet- 
ing to  distinctly  explain  what  he  expects  of  those  who  have  re- 
ceived slips,  and  to  request  them  if  they  do  not  intend  to  comply 
to  pass  the  slip  back. 

After  calling  for  a  reference  twice,  with  slight  interval,  the 
leader  had  better  read  himself,  not  delaying  the  audience  for 
those  who  have  lost  the  place. 

Let  the  word  stand  out  clear  aad  speak  for  itself.  Simply  call 
attention  to  the  obvious  truth  each  reference  presents,  a.id  its 
connection  and  place  in  the  subject  you  are  developing.  Have 
faith  in  the  presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  as  the  teacher.  Have  con- 
^dence  in  the  power  of  the  Word  to  do  its  own  work.     Be  humble 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGii.  9 

in  the  advancement  of  your  interpretation  of  the  text,  and  always 
fortify  your  interpretation,  not  by  quoting  human  authority,  but  the 
Word  itself.  Remember  James  iii.  i.  "  My  brethren,  be  not 
many  teachers,  knowing  that  we  shall  receive  the  greater  condem- 
nation." The  less  oi  our  thought  and  our  ideas  in  the  reading",  the 
more  profitable  it  will  be  to  us  and  to  all. 


HOW  TO  STUDY  THE  BIBLE. 


BY    REV.    LYMAN    ABBOTT. 


'I. — Means  of  Study. — In  answering  the  question  which  I  have 
epitomized  in  the  title  of  this  and  three  succeeding  letters  on  the 
subject,  I  shall  assume  that  you  have  neither  the  means  to  pur- 
chase a  large  Hbrary  nor  the  time  and  opportunity  to  make  good  use 
•of  it  if  you  had  it.  I  shall  assume  that  you  are  engaged  in  some 
form  of  Bible  instruction,  and  that  y.ou  want  some  suggestions  to  aid 
you  in  getting  a  clear  practical  knowledge  of  the  Bible  yourself, 
which  you  ma)^  impart  to  others. 

For  this  purpose  you  need  a  library.  You  cannot  study  with- 
out books.  But  your  library  need  not  be  large  or  expensive ;  a  j  ack- 
knife  in  skilful  hands  is  better  than  a  full  tool-chest  in  the  hands 
of  ?,  bungler. 

First  you  must  have  a  reference  Bible,  and  a  good  one.  It  is  a 
matter  of  no  mean  importance  to  have  one  Bible  that  is  good  enough 
to  last  a  life-time.  I  have  one,  a  Bagster,  that  I  have  carried  over 
twenty  years.  I  can  turn  to  a  book,  a  chapter,  or  a  text  with 
•celerity,  for  I  have  learned  to  know  the  verses  by  their  locali- 
ties ;  in  another  Bible  I  might  ransack  the  pages  for  the  missing 
verse  in  vain.  Buy  your  Bible  in  flexible  binding.  It  costs  m^ore 
but  it  never  wears  out. 

Next  to  a  reference  Bible  is  a  Bible  Text-book  and  a  Concord- 
ance ;  the  Text-Book  is  more  important  than  the  Concordance  as 
well  as  cheaper.  The  difference  between  a  Text-book  and  a  Con- 
cordance is  that  the  former  gives  you  references  to  Scripture  teach- 
ing according  to  subjects,  while  the  latter  gives  a  classification  of 
all  Scripture  texts  according  to  words.  Thus,  if  you  look  in  your 
Concordance  for  the  word  "  atonement"  you  will  find  only  one  verse 
referred  to,  for  the  word  only  occurs  once  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment ;  but  if  you  look  in  your  Text-Book  you  will  find  many 
references,  for  the  New  Testament  is  full  of  the  doctrine.  The 
use  of  a  Concordance  is  to  find  a  given  text,  one  important  word  of 
which  you  know  ;  the  use  of  the  Text-Book  is  to  find  a  collection 
•of  Bible  texts  on  any  given  theme,  not  one  of  which  you  may  have 
known  before. 

Next  to  the  Text-Book  and  Concordance,  w^hich  are  simply 
contrivances  for  finding  out  what  is  in  the  Bible,  comes  a  good 
Bible  Dictionary.  The  object  of  this  is  to  give  a  knowledge  of  bib- 
lical gfeo^raphy  and  antiquities,  without  which  much  that  is  in  the 


10  NOTES    FOR   BIBLE   READINGS. 

Bible  IS  but  imperfectly  intelligible.  For  scholars  who  want  to 
Ftudy  the  conflicting  themes  and  opinions  of  learned  men  there  is 
nothing  so  good  as  the  American  edition  of  Smith's  Bib.-e  Diction- 
ary, in  four  voulmes.  But  he  who  has  not  acquired  some  practical 
skill  in  the  balancing  pros  and  cons  is  liable  to  get  lof  t  in  the 
labyrinthine  discussions  of  this  scholarly  work.  For  such,  a  "  Dic- 
tionary of  Religious  Knowledge"  is  published  by  Harper  &  Brothers 
which  aims  to  include  both  all  biblical  subjects  and  all  impor- 
tant theological  and  ecclesiastical  topics.  Of  that,  since  I  was  its 
chief  editor,  I  shall  not  say  anything  more  than  that  it  was  pre- 
pared with  especial  view  to  the  wants  of  those  biblical  students 
who  desire  a  volume  to  give  them  the  results  without  the  processes 
of  scholarship.  ' 

Next  to  a  Bible  Dictionary  is  a  good  Commentary  on  the  Bible^ 
I  know  a  great  many  persons  express  a  contempt  for  commenta- 
ries, and  as  commentaries  are  often  used  the  contempt  is  natu- 
ral ;  only  it  is  deserved  by  the  use,  not  by  the  book.  The  com- 
mentary is  not  a  book  to  be  studied,  it  is  a  book  to  help  you  study 
the  Bible.  Knives  and  forks  are  better  than  fingers  for  the  purpose 
of  eating  ;  but  the  man  who  should  attempt  to  eat  knives  and  forks 
would  have  a  sorry  meal.  Study  the  Bible  ;  let  a  good  commentary 
help  you  in  your  study.  It  will  give  you  the  best  reading  when 
there  are  variations.  It  will  give  you  the  meaning  of  the  original 
when  the  English  version  is  inadequate.  It  will  give  you  light  on 
manners  and  customs  when  they  are  needed  as  interpreters.  It 
will  give  you  the  connection  with  the  context  and  light  from  parallel 
passages  when  the  meaning  is  obscure.  It  will  indicate  to  you 
the  spiritual  purpose  of  the  writer  and  of  the  Spirit  of  God  in  the 
writer,  and  it  will  give  you  the  best  suggestive  thoughts  of  the  best 
thinkers,  or  some  of  them,  respecting  the  meaning  and  use  of  the 
passage.  It  is  the  very  folly  of  self-conceit  to  assume,  as  some  of 
the  critics  of  the  commentaries  do,  that  any  man  can  pick  up  his 
Bible,  and  in  half  an  hour  read  as  much  in  a  verse  or  a  chapter^ 
without  aid,  as  he  can  after  a  conference  with  the  most  devout 
and  scholarly  thinkers  who  have  spent  days  and  weeks  in  the 
reverent  study  of  the  same  book  and  perhaps  the  identical  passage 
under  consideration. 

Finally  you  need  to  complete  your  librar3'',  a  blank-book  in 
which  to  enter  the  results  of  your  study.  I  do  not  advise  any  sys- 
tem of  Bible-marking.  Keep  your  Bible  clean  to  express  to 
you  God's  thoughts,  not  to  serve  as  a  journal,  or  a  diary  of  your 
own.  The  best  blank-book  for  library  purposes  is  an  interleaved 
Bible :  the  best  for  use  in  the  class  is  a  little  blank-book  to  be  carried 
in  the  pocket ;  better  than  either  is  a  combination  ;  a  small  blank- 
book  to  jot  down  the  thought  at  the  moment — to  serve  as  the 
merchant's  day-book — and  an  Index  Rerum  or  an  interleaved 
Bible  into  which  these  thoughts  are  transferred  from  time  to  time 
— to  serve  as  the  merchant's  journal  and  ledger. 

One  other  means  of  study  is  as  important  as  a  library— that  is 
time.     If  you  will  select  half  an  hour — the  morning  half  hour  is 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  II 

the  best,  in  my  judgment — for  regular  and  systematic  study 
of  the  Word  of  God,  though  each  day  you  will-  do  but  little,  you 
will  be  surprised  to  find  how  much  you  have  learned  in  the  course 
of  the  year.     The  tortoise  still  beats  the  hare  in  the  race. 

2nd.  Methods : 

Turn  a  college  student  adrift  in  the  iVstor  Library  or  the  Con- 
gressional Library,  and  though  he  might  enjoy  himself  in  a  de- 
sultory way  in  mousing  among  the  books  he  would  come  out  at 
the  end  of  the  day  little  wiser  than  he  went  in.  He  should  first 
ask.  How  is  the  library  arranged  ? 

Where  are  the  historical  alcoves  ?  Where  is  the  philosophy  ? 
Where  the  belles-lettres?  Fitful  dashes  at  the  Bible — the 
Psalms  to-day,  the  Epistles  to-morrow.  Exodus  the  day  after — 
give  a  man  about  as  much  knowledge  of  the  Bible  as  a  child  gets 
of  Botany  who  goes  gathering  wild  flowers  in  the  woods  in  May. 

A  study  of  the  Bible  as  a  whole  is  a  necessary  preliminary. 

What  is  the  Bible  ?  It  is  a  library.  How  long  was  it  in 
process  of  evolution — or  creation,  if  that  is  a  more  orthodox  word  ? 
About  sixteen  hundred  years.  Of  what  does  it  consist  ?  Laws, 
political  economy,  history,  poetry,  biography,  fiction,  theology* 
How  do  you  divide  it  ?  The  first  five  books  of  the  Old  Testament 
are  laws  and  political  economy  ;  the  next  twelve  books  are  history  ; 
the  rest  are  poetry  and  prophecy.  The  first  four  books  of  the  New 
Testament  are  biography  ;  the  next  one  is  history  ;  the  rest,  ex- 
cept Revelation,  are  theology  and  philosophy,  but  always  writ- 
ten for  a  practical  purpose  and  with  a  practical  application.  The 
last  book  is  a  poem,  a  picture,  a  drama. 

This  short  catechism  indicates  what  I  mean  by  the  study  of  the 
Bible  as  a  whole.  This  gives  the  outlines  of  the  structure. 
Some  knowledge  of  authors,  their  times,  their  civilization,  their 
purpose  in  writing,  the  characteristics  of  Jewish  laws,  of  ancient 
history,  of  Hebrew  poetry  are  equally  necessary.  Any  good 
Bible  Dictionary,  any  good  Commentary,  will  give  you  more  or 
less  material  for  such  preliminary  study.  In  connection  with  many- 
Sunday-schools  are  Normal  Classes  to  pursue  such  courses  of 
study.     The}^  ought  to  be  more  numerous  than  they  are. 

The  study  of  individual  books  is  a  secondary  preliminan/.  How 
many  of  even  tolerably  well  educated  Sunday-school  teachers 
have  any  idea  of  the  significance  and  purpose  and  character  of 
single  books  of  the  Bible — Leviticus,  Ruth,  Job,  Ecclesiastes  ! 
How  many  know  any  generic  difference  between  the  Epistle  to 
the  Philippians  and  that  to  the  Galatians  ?  We  read  the  Bible 
as  Jack  Horner  ate  his  Christmas  pudding — pick  out  the  plums 
and  sometimes  with  the  same  result ;  when  we  are  through  our 
morning  chapter  we  take  our  reward  in  a  sweet  sense  of  self-satis- 
faction, *'  What  a  good  boy  am  T  !  " 

Let  me  illustrate  what  I  mean  by  the  study  of  individual  books. 
The  scholar  has  read  verses  and  chapters  from  the  book  of  Job. 
He  has  heard  repeatedly  quoted,  "  Oh  that  mine  adversary  had 
written  a  book  1'     He  has  no  idea  what  it  means,  for  the  quotation 


i2  NOTES    FOR   BIBLE   READINGS. 

is  always  semi-jocular.  He  takes  up  the  book  of  Job  to  study  it. 
What  is  it  ?  A  poem,  a  parable,  a  story — whether  fiction  founded 
on  fact  or  fiction  without  any  fact-foundation  is  not  very  material, 
it  is  certainly  as  true  as  the  parable  of  the  prodigal  son,  and 
that  is  true  enough.  Who  was  Job  ?  A  man  who  lived  in  the 
world's  twilight.  No  *'  Sun  of  Righteousness"  had  risen  on  him. 
He  never  refers  to  law,  or  priest,  or  prophet,  or  dream,  or  divine 
revelation  of  any  kind.  He  was  a  worshipper  of  a  true  but  a 
wholly  unknown  God.  He  was  a  Hebrew  Socrates.  His  religion 
was  the  "religion  of  nature."  Ifit  besaid  that  he  possessed  in  ad- 
dition that  knowledge  of  God  which  had  trickled  down  through 
tradition  from  the  patriarchal  age,  it  may  be  replied  that  every 
devout  heathen  has  possessed  the  same  knowledge.  He  lived 
in  the  faith  of  the  aphorism,  Be  virtuous  and  you  will  be  happy. 
So  long  as  he  was  prosperous  his  "  religion  of  nature"  stood 
him  in  good  stead.  But  adversity  came.  His  property  was  swept 
away  ;  his  children  were  killed  ;  disease  laid  hold  on  him ;  nothing 
was  left  but  his  wife,  and  she  was  almost  the  direst  misfortune  of 
all.  He  was  utterly  overwhelmed ;  was  in  hopeless  perplexity.  The 
very  foundations  of  his  faith  were  broken  up.  His  three  friends 
insisted  on  it  that  all  this  was  a  punishment  for  his  sins. 
He  was  too  good  a  man  to  play  at  mock  humility,  and  indignantly 
-denied  it.  He  maintained  his  virtue,  and  yet  he  could  not 
give  up  his  faith  in  God  ;  so  his  perplexity  embittered  his  grief. 
Out  of  it  comes  the  cry  for  just  that  which  the  divine  revelation 
gives  to  us  in  our  sorrow.  ''  Oh  for  a  Daysman  !  Oh  for  a  divine 
disclosure  of  the  unknown  !  Oh  that  this  divine  Enemy  who  has 
-suffered  blow  on  blow  to  fall  upon  me  had  written  a  book  to 
explain  his  ways  and  reveal  his  will !  "  Natural  religion  fails  in 
great  sorrow.     Then  the  soul  wants  a  Saviour  ;  wants  a  Bible. 

When  the  student  has  gotten  this  general  view  of  the  book  of 
Job,  as  a  parabolic  poem  teaching  the  need  of  a  supernatural 
Christianity,  all  in  the  book,  every  cry  ot  Job,  every  super- 
cilious consolation  offered  by  his  three  miscalled  friends,  becomes 
significant.  No  man  can  understand  a  part  that  does  not  under- 
stand the  whole.  He  that  would  interpret  aright  a  single  flower 
in  the  tapestry  must  first  stand  off  a  little  and  get  a  view  of  the 
whole  pattern. 

"  Vanity  of  vanities ;  all  is  vanity."  It  is  not  true,  all  is  not 
vanity.  This  world  is  God's  university.  It  is  magnificently 
•endowed.  As  a  training-school  for  another  life  beyond  it  is  ad- 
mirable. No  man  can  read  aright  the  book  of  Ecclesiastes 
who  does  not  consider  it  as  the  experience  of  a  man  who  had 
not  taken  this  world  as  a  training-school :  who  had  sought  for 
happiness  in  wealth,  pleasure,  riches  ;  who  had  drank  life's  cups 
and  found  it  foam  on  top  and  dregs  at  the  bottom.  "  Vanity  of  van- 
ities ;  all  is  vanity''  is  not  the  Christian  verdict  ;  it  is  the  mis- 
anthrope's wail.  It  is  the  testimony  ot  the  blase  man  of  the 
world.  It  is  true  only  from  his  point  of  view.  The  student  must 
know  the   author  of   Ecclesiastes  and  his  life  and  his  purpose 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  IJ 

before  he  can  understand  the  book.  Who  would  interpret 
Childe  Harold  as  though  Cowper  had  written  it  ? 

The  Epistle  to  the  Philippians  is  the  letter  of  thanks  of  a  for- 
eign missionary  box.  The  Epistle  to  the  Galatians  is  the  letter  of 
admonition  to  the  fickle-minded  Frenchmen  of  the  first  century 
because  their  zeal  of  love  had  turned  to  ceremonialism.  The 
Epistle  to  the  Romans  is  a  treatise  on  systematic  theology  in  the 
form  of  a  letter.  Each  must  be  read  in  the  light  of  its  origin  and 
object. 

This  general  course  of  study  of  the  structure  of  the  whole  Bible 
and  of  individual  books  in  the  Bible  is  preliminary  to  study  in 
detail  of  their  contents.  It  will  give  all  the  advantage  to  be 
gained  by  reading  the  Bible  through  in  course.  I  do  not  advise 
any  one  to  undertake  such  a  reading.  I  should  as  soon  think  of 
attempting  to  read  a  library  through,  or  a  cyclopedia.  I  should 
almost  as  soon  think  of  eating  a  hotel  course  all  through,  dispos- 
ing of  all  the  soups  in  order  to-day  and  beginning  on  the  fish 
course  to-morrow.  The  only,  certainly  the  chief,  use  of  such  a 
course  of  reading  is  that  thus  you  may  get  a  general  knowledge  of 
the  contents  of  the  Bible,  and  the  method  of  study  which  I  have- 
indicated  is  far  better  for  that  purpose. 

3.  More  About  Methods. — The  possible  ways  of  studying 
the  Bible  are  as  diverse  as  human  minds.  To  lay  down  rules  for 
Bible  study  would  be  as  preposterous  as  to  lay  down  rules  of 
locomotion  for  fish,  flesh,  and  fowl.  The  first  and  fundamental 
principle  is  this :  Let  each  man  study  the  Bible  in  his  own  way. 
One  man  who  is  systematic  will  do  it  with  regularity;  another 
who  is  moody  will  do  it  according  to  his  moods ;  one  who  is 
analytical  will  do  it  by  collation  and  comparison  of  texts  ;  another 
who  is  not  will  study  its  historical  books  and  its  biographies  ; 
still  another  will  find  most  nutriment  in  its  books  ol  poetry.  Let 
each  bee  go  where  he  gets  honey.  Buzzing  at  a  flower  whose 
honey  is  beyond  your  reach  is  useless.  Do  not  take  another 
man's  method  unless  it  tits  your  mind.  A  shepherd's  sling  and  a 
smooth  stone  are  better  for  David  than  Saul's  armor. 

All  that  I  shall  attempt  to  do  in  this  and  a  succeeding  and  a 
final  letter  will  be  to  illustrate,  from  my  own  experience,  three 
methods  of  Bible  study. 

I.  Biographical.  I  began  a  fevs^  weeks  ago  reading  the  story  of 
Joseph  at  family  prayers.  I  found  that  it  solved  very  satisfac- 
torily the  problem  presented  by  a  pastor's  wife  last  week  in  her 
article,  "  Babies  in  prayer-time."  The  youngest  sat  in  my  lap, 
the  next  5^oungest  sat  in.  his  chair  by  my  side.  I  take  it  for 
granted  that  the  older  members  of  the  family  can  read  the  Bible 
for  themselves  ;  I  therefore  conduct  family  prayers  for  the  benefit 
of  the  youngest  members.  As  I  read  I  explained  ;  substituted 
short  words  for  long  ones ;  stopped  for  questions,  and  answered 
them.  The  episode  about  Potiphar's  wife  I  omitted.  I  read 
but  little  at  a  time.  The  Scripture  reading  served  as  a  serial 
story.  Both  the  "  babies  in  prayer-time"  wanted  me  to  read  more. 


14  NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 

Two  or  three  Sundays  after  we  had  completed  the  course  I  over- 
heard them  playing  church.  The  youngest  was  preaching  ;  and 
he  told  the  whole  story  of  Joseph  with  only  now  and  then  a 
blunder.  Then  the  next  older  one  corrected  him.  One  is  four 
years  old,  the  other  is  five  and  a  half.  This  is  the  biographical 
method  in  its  simplest  form.  It  is  capable  of  indefinite  expansion 
and  variation. 

The  life  of  David  affords  admirable  material  for  a  course  of 
study.  " Townsend's  Bible"  or  Harper's  "Dictionary  of  Religious 
Knowledge"  will  give  you  the  occasion  of  the  composition  of  his 
various  Psalms.  Read  the  life  ;  look  up  the  geographical  refer- 
•ences  in  your  Bible  Dictionary  ;  and  read  the  Psalms  in  connec- 
tion with  the  experiences  from  which  they  were  evolved.  Psalms 
xlii.,  xliii.,  which  are  really  one,  have  a  new  meaning  when  you 
read  the  story  of  anguish  and  bitterness  out  of  which  they  sprang, 
like  a  flower  watered  by  the  springs  of  Marah.  There  is  no  such 
song  in  the  night  as  this  Psalm.  David's  declaration  in  Psalm 
iii.,  "  I  laid  me  down  and  slept,"  is  meaningless  until  you  know 
when  he  slept.  It  only  indicates  that  he  was  sleepy  ;  men  have 
'even  been  known  to  go  to  sleep  of  a  Sunday  afternoon  in  church, 
and  it  was  not  imputed  to  them  for  righteousness.  But  consider 
the  circumstances.  He  was  fleeing  from  Jerusalem,  his  life 
threatened  by  his  favorite  son,  his  kingdom  apparently  wrested 
from  him,  some  of  his  most  trusted  counsellors  turned  against 
.him,  desolate  in  the  present  and  not  knowing  what  was  before 
>him  in  the  future,  and  then  and  there,  on  the  edge  of  the  wilder- 
ness, with  only  the  sky  above  him  for  a  roof,  and  but  a  tew  firm 
iriends  for  companions,  he  was  able  to  sleep  in  peace.  Now"  see 
:n  this  simple  declaration  one  of  the  strongest  illustrations  of  the 
power  of  faith  and  trust  which  the  Bible  contains.  How  often 
that  text  has  sung  me  to  sleep  in  times  when  but  for  it  I  must  have 
passed  an  anxious,  troubled  and  sleepless  night !  No  man  knows 
either  David  or  his  Psalms  who  has  not  read  the  story  of  his  life 
through  in  chronological  order,  and  in  connection  with  the  record- 
ed experiences  which  his  life  produced.  The  life  is  God's  hands 
striking  the  heartstrings  ;  the  Psalms  are  the  music  the  heart  gives 
iori:h. 

The  life  oi  Paul  is  an  admirable  theme  for  a  course  of  biograph- 
ical study.  And  the  autobiographical  passages  in  his  epistles 
should  be  studied  in  connection  with  Luke's  history;  e.g.,  Philip- 
pians  iii.,  4-10,  with  Acts  ix.,  1-18.  Any  good  religious  dictionary 
or  commentary  will  give  the  references. 

Best  of  all  is  the  "  Life  of  Christ."  Mr.  Beecher  somewhere 
has  given  an  account  01  the  light  borne  in  upon  his  own  soul  by 
readmg  through  at  a  sitting  one  oi  the  gospels,  for  the  purpose  of 
getting  a  clear  and  connected  idea  01  the  character  of  Christ.  That 
his  ministry  has  always  been  so  peculiarly  a  Christly  ministry  is 
in  no  small  measure  attributable  to  that  one  experience.  A  more 
-elaborate  study  may  easily  be  made  by  taking  either  a  Harmony 
of  the  Gospels  or  one  of  the  many  lives  of  Christ,  and  then  study- 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  I5 

ing  in  detail  each  incident,  miracle  and  teaching  in  its  appropriate 
place,  and  with  a  consideration  of  its  relation  to  Christ's  whole 
life-work.  The  story  of  the  Syro-Phenician  woman  has  been  a 
perplexity  to  many  minds,  simply  because  they  did  not  know  that 
Christ  was  off  on  a  vacation,  and  that  to  have  performed  the 
miracle  asked  of  him  would  have  defeated  his  purpose  ;  did  in  fact 
defeat  it,  and  drove  him  from  the  rest  and  retirement  he  was  seek- 
ing" in  a  heathen  country. 

It  is  somewhat  more  difficult,  but  not  less  profitable,  to  trace 
the  growth  of  character  by  a  comparison  and  collation  of  scattered 
passages  ;  the  development  of  Peter  from  the  rude  and  profane 
fisherman  to  the  eloquent  revivalist,  or  the  development  of  John 
from  the  fiery  disciple  who  would  have  called  divine  destruction 
down  upon  the  Samaritan  village  to.  the  gentle  and  loving  author 
of  John's  Gospel. 

2.  Topical.  The  topical  method  is  one  of  endless  variety  ;  but 
the  principle  is  always  the  same.  The  object  of  the  student  is  to 
ascertain  what  is  the  teaching  of  the  Bible  on  any  given  topic. 
The  instruments  are  very  simple.  They  are  a  reference  Bible,  a 
Bible  Text-book,  a  Concordance  ;  and  common  sense. 

Last  year  at  Chautauqua  Dr.  Vincent  asked  me  to  conduct  an 
Eventide  Conference  on  the  "  Peace  of  God."  I  borrowed  a  Bible, 
Text-book  and  a  Concordance  ;  and  I  prepared  lour  or  five  slips 
of  paper,  on  which  I  wrote  such  questions  as  the  following,  a 
separate  question  on  each  slip  : 

In  what  does  this  peace  consist  ? 

What  are  its  characteristics 

Who  can  attain  it  ? 

How  can  it  be  attained  ? 

How  is  it  lost  ? 

Then  I  took  my  Bagster  Bible  and  my  wife  took  the  Con- 
cordance, and  together  we  looked  for  the  Bible  answers  to  these 
questions.  She  read  to  me  from  the  Concordance  every  text  that 
contained  the  word  "  peace ;  "  I  looked  them  up  in  the  Bible  and 
put  the  answers  which  they  gave  me  in  their  appropriate  places 
on  my  memoranda.  Thus,  *'  Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace 
whose  mind  is  stayed  on  thee"  went  down  on  two  memoranda: 
under  "characteristics  of  peace"  I  wrote  perfect;  under  "how 
at^-iined  "  I  wrote  by  trust  in  God.  The  text,  "  The  peace  of  God 
which  passeth  all  understanding  shall  keep  your  hearts  and  minds 
t  irough  Christ  Jesus,"  three  times.  This  is  a  guardian  peace  ; 
it  IS  too  deep  for  intellectual  analysis  ;  and  it  is  given  through  faith 
in  jfesus  Christ.  So  we  went  through  the  Concordance  ;  then  we 
went  through  the, Bible  Text  Books,  which  gave  us  additional 
texts  that  did  not  contain  the  word  peace  ;  such  as  that  promise 
in  Isaiah,  "  When  thou  passest  through  the  waters  I  will  be  with 
thee,  and  through  the  rivers,  they  shall  no^  overflow  thee,"  and 
such  as  that  invitation  in  Matthew,  "  Come  unto  Me  all  ye  that 
labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest."  The  result 
of  three  or  four  hours  of  such  study  was  a  series  of  answers  sojue- 


l6  NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 

thing  like  the  following  ;  I  am  writing  from  memory  without  my 
notes  before  me. 

The  peace  of  God  is  (i)  God's  own  peace,  the  peace  that  be- 
longs to  the  divine  nature  ;  (2)  it  therefore  belongs  to  the  children 
of  God  just  in  the  measure  in  which  they  become  partakers  of  the 
divine  nature.  (3)  It  is  deep,  perfect,  everlasting.  (4)  It  is  peace 
from  the  burden  and  curse  of  sin.  (5)  It  is  peace  m  all  times  of 
sorrow  and  trouble.  (6)  It  is  given  by  God  through  faith  in  Jesus 
Christ.  (7)  The  conditions  of  receiving  it  are  consecration  to  God 
and  trust  in  God.  (8)  The  lack  of  peace  always  indicates  either 
imperfect  consecration  or  imperfect  trust. 

This  account  may  serve  to  illustrate  what  I  mean  by  the  topical 
study  of  the  Bible.  The  varieties  in  method  are  endless,  as  the 
reader  will  at  once  perceive.  It  requires  no  great  scholarship  to 
pursue  such  a  study.  And  I  believe  that  if  the  ministry  generall}^ 
would  search  through  the  Bible  in  this  way  for  its  answers  to  their 
questions,  instead  of  going  to  their  Calvin's  and  their  Watson's 
Institutes,  their  sermons  on  theological  points — and  theology  is  oi 
all  themes  the  one  of  the  greatest  popular  interest — would  be 
more  original,  more  striking,  more  authoritative,  and  more  potent 
in  their  direct  practical  and  spiritual  appeal  to  the  hearts,  and  con- 
sciences of  hearers. 

4.  Studying  the  Sunday-School  Lesson. — Paul  has  told  us 
what  the  Bible  is  good  for.  It  is  profitable  for  doctrine — i.  e.j  for 
religious  instruction.  And  then  he  specifies  the  particulars :  for 
reproof,  for  correction,  and  for  instruction  in  righteousness  ;  that 
is,  it  is  useful  to  convince  men  of  their  sins,  to  set  them  on  the 
road  to  reform,  and  to  instruct  them  on  questions  of  right  and 
wrong  when  they  have  started  out  on  that  road.  The  Bible  is  a 
tool,  and  this  is  the  work  that  is  to  be  done  with  it.  Now,  in  using 
any  tool,  the  first  and  instinctive  question  of  a  good  workman  is, 
What  am  I  to  do  with  this  tool  at  this  time  ?  The  chisel  in  the 
hand  of  a  carpenter  is  not  one  tool,  but  many ;  and  he  always, 
though  not  always  consciously,  considers  what  he  means  to  do 
with  it  before  he  begins  his  work  ;  and  of  all  his  various  chisels  he 
selects  that  particular  one  which  is  best  fitted  for  his  purpose. 
The  first  question  you,  as  a  Sunday-school  teacher,  are  to  ask 
yourself — the  first  question  that  your  pastor  ought  to  ask  himself 
in  preparing  his  sermon,  is  this  :  What  am  I  going  to  do  with  this 
Scripture  ?  Am  I  going  to  use  it  to  convince  my  scholars  of  their 
sins  and  their  need  of  a  Saviour,  or  to  awaken  in  them  a  resolu- 
tion of  repentance  and  reformation,  or  to  instruct  them  in  the 
right  way — assuming  that  they  already  want  to  walk  in  it ;  or  am 
I  to  use  it  in  all  these  ways  according  to  my  scholars'  characters 
and  dispositions  ? 

And  again :  Am  I  to  use  it  to  convince  generally  of  sin,  or  of 
some  particular  sin  ;  to  lead  generally  to  repentance  and  reform- 
ation, or  to  a  resolution  of  reform  in  some  particular  ? 

To  get  the  answer  to  these  questions,  take  first  your  Bible  and 
the  golden  text,  which  you  will  generally  find  useful  because  it 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


17 


represents  what  some  able  Bible  scholars  think  to  be  the  use  of 
the  particular  Scripture  before  you.  Study  these  before  you  look 
at  the  *'  Lesson  Helps."  Fix  firmly  in  your  mind  what  you  think 
to  be  the  use  of  that  lesson  to  you  in  your  class,  no  matter  what 
some  one  else  could  find  in  it  for  a  different  class  of  minds.  For 
you,  in  a  Bible  class,  are  not  to  use  it  as  your  companion  in 
Christ  is  to  use  it  in  the  infant  class.  The  answer  to  these  ques- 
tions is  something  that  no  one  else  can  give  to  you.  It  mmst 
simply  come  from  much  and  prayerful  pondering  of  the'  text 
itself.  Sometimes  it  will  flash  upon  you  on  the  first  reading ; 
sometimes  it  requires  a  long  pondering  to  arrive  at  a  result. 
But  whenever  this  result  is  arrived  at,  half  your  work,  and  the 
best  half,  is  done. 

Next,  with  this  aim  clearly  before  you,  and  I  think  that  it  is 
often  an  advantage  to  write  it  down  to  give  clearness  to  your  own 
mind,  begin  your  study  of  the  details.  Study  these  as  far  as  they 
will  help  you  to  accomplish  your  object.  Your  lesson  is  the  folly 
of  Rehoboam.  It  is  small  matter  whether  he  got  his  name  from 
his  father  prophetically  or  whether  it  was  subsequently  given  to 
him  in  derision  by  the  people.  Do  not  waste  much  time  over 
that.  Your  lesson  is  the  conversion  of  Paul.  You  are  going  to 
use  it  in  an  endeavour  to  bring  some  of  your  hesitating,  procras- 
tinating pupils  to  a  final  decision.  Do  not  waste  time  in  deciding 
which  of  the  three  routes  Paul  probably  took  to  Damascus. 
Your  lesson  is  Elijah  by  the  brook  Cherith.  You  have  a  skeptic 
in  your  class,  and  you  determine  to  use  this  lesson  to  show  the 
reality  of  the  miracles  in  the  Old  Testament.  Then  you  need  to 
know  whether  the  ravens  were  really  ravens,  or  were,  as  some 
scholars  contend,  merchants  ;  but  if  you  are  going  to  use  the 
lesson  to  confirm  faith  in  the  Providential  care  of  God  over  all 
those  who  trust  in  him,  it  is  a  matter  of  small  or  no  account 
whether  he  used  merchants  or  ravens  for  this  purpose.  So  your 
pre-determined  use  of  the  lesson  will  determine  the  nature  of 
your  subsequent  studies. 

When  you  have  thus  laid  out  your  lesson  in  your  own  mind 
considered  the  questions  most  likely  to  arise  and  most  important 
to  be  answered,  and  perhaps  put  your  thoughts  down  in  a  note- 
book, you  may  advantageously  take  up  your  lesson  helps  ;  but  in 
general  they  should  not  be  taken  up  before.  They  should  be 
"  helps"  to  an  independent  stud}'  of  the  Bible,  not  a  substitute 
for  it.  Not  till  this  preliminary  work  is  done  are  you  ready  to 
get  the  full  benefit  of  the  thoughts  of  others,  which  you  are 
otherwise  liable  to  substitute  for  your  own.  They  must  become 
your  own  before  you  can  make  the  best  use  of  them  ;  but  for  this 
purpose  they  must  be  engrafted  on  your  own  stock,  filtered  through 
your  own  brain.  You  must  be  a  fruit-tree,  not  a  barrel  of  plucked 
apples  ;  a  spring,  not  a  cistern. 

Finally,  of  all  helps   the  Bible  is  the   best.     That  is,  in  deter- 
mining what  is   the   meaning  of  any  teaching  or  the  use  of  any 
incident,  find  out  if  you  can  what  use  the  sacred  writers  have 
2 


l8  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

made  of  it  themselves,  or  what  truth  contained  in  it  is  elsewhere 
illustrated  or  enforced  by  other  parallel  teachings  of  Scripture. 

Let  me  interpret  and  illustrate  these  principles  by  their  use  in 
the  latest  lesson  that  I  have  studied — the  one  in  this  week's 
paper. 

I  first  turn  to  my  Bible  and  read  the  passage,  i  Kings  xvii. 
I- 1 6.  Why  was  this  story  told  ?  What  lesson  has  it  for  me  ? 
For  if  I  can  apply  it  to  myself  I  can,  with  power  such  as  is  only 
derived  from  personal  experience,  apply  it  to  others.  I  see  in  it 
a  threefold  trial  of  courage  :  first,  the  courage  of  work ;  second, 
the  courage  of  patience  ;  third,  the  courage  of  charity.  This  lies 
on  the  surface.  Are  there  other  lessons  ?  Yes,  there  are  two 
that  the  Lord  himself  drew  from  this  incident,  one  in  Luke  iv. 
25-26  ;  the  other  in  Matt.  x.  41,  42.  The  ground  of  courage,  the 
Lord's  provision  for  his  own,  is  there  also  :  a  more  beautiful  illus- 
tration of  the  principle  that  Jesus  taught  in  the  Sermon  on  the 
Mount,  Matt.  vi.  26,  I  know  not  where  you  will  find.  This  is  the 
use  I  will  make  of  it ;  to  inculcate  a  stronger  courage,  a  broader 
charity,  a  more  hopeful  trust.  Then  come  the  questions,  Where 
was  the  brook  Cherith  ?  Why  did  God  employ  ravens  ?  Where 
was  Zarephath  ?  What  were  the  peculiarities  of  an  Eastern 
famine,  etc.?  If  the  ascertainable  answers  to  these  questions  aid 
in  accomplishing  my  object  I  study  them  ;  if  they  do  not  I  pass 
them  by  without  an  answer.  Then  follows  the  use  of  the  work  oi 
previous  writers  in  the  same  field — Stanley,  Robinson,  Taylor, 
Keil,  Maurice,  etc. — from  whom  I  gleam  but  do  not  reap. 

These  are  the  outlines  ;  the  varieties  in  method  are  endless 
Sometimes  the  lesson  calls  for  but  little  extra- Biblical  study  , 
sometimes  it  requires  a  great  deal ;  ordinarily,  study  of  the  Bible 
comes  first,  "helps"  afterwards;  but  sometimes  the  study  of 
geography,  or  customs,  or  seemingly  secondary  questions,  must 
precede  the  determination  of  the  question,  What  use  shall  I  make 
of  this  Scripture  ?  Thus,  in  order  to  understand  the  meaning  oi 
the  fire  test  between  Elijah  and  the  priests  of  Baal,  it  is  necessary 
to  know  something  more  about  Baal  than  is  disclosed  in  the 
Bible,  at  least  on  a  mere  reading  of  it. 

But  however  he  may  vary  in  his  method — and  he  will  never 
study  two  lessons  exactly  alike,  and  no  two  teachers  will  study 
the  same  lesson  exactly  in  the  same  manner — he  must  always 
study  it  with  the  same  object  kept  steadily  in  view  ;  the  moral 
and  spiritual  benefit,  first,  of  himself,  and,  second,  of  his  class. 
Not  he  who  is  the  most  learned,  or  the  most  polished,  or  the 
most  eloquent,  but  he  who  is  most  "  apt  to  teach  "  is  the  best 
teacher.  And  he  who  most  constantly  keeps  in  view  the  great 
fact  that  the  lesson  is  but  an  instrument,  that  his  real  object  is 
the  development  of  Christian  disposition  and  character  in  his 
scholars,  that  all  Scripture  is  profitable  for  this  purpose,  is  the  one 
"  most  apt  to  teach." 


HOW  TO  STUDY  THE  BIBLE. 


SYNOPSIS    OF    AN    ADDRESS    BY   W.  J.  ERDMAN,  CHICAGO. 

There  are  two  books  of  God — Nature  and  the  Bible.  Creation 
and  redemption  are  the  two  works  of  God,  and  the  works  are 
words,  John  xiv.  lo.  Both  Creation  and  Redemption  lead  to 
faith  in  God,  John  iii.  12  :  iii.  31  ;  Luke  xii.  22-28  ;  Psalm  cxix. 
64;  Rom.  X.  17-18.  Both  should  be  studied  in  the  same  way. 
li  it  seems  surprising  to  discuss  the  methods  of  Bible  study  at  so 
late  a  day  after  it  has  been  in  the  hands  of  men  for  hundreds  of 
years,  let  us  remember  the  marvellous  discoveries  of  natural 
science  fall  within  the  last  two  centuries,  and  are  due  to  a  change 
of  the  methods  of  investigation.  Have  w^e  studied  the  Bible  as 
scientists  now  investigate  nature  ?  Science  creates  no  new  facts, 
theology  no  truths;  all  is  finished  for  man  to  search  out.  How 
shall  he  search  out  the  work  of  Creation  and  the  work  of  Redemp- 
tion ? 

1.  Thest>irlt  in  which  to  study  is  that  of  a  child.  Lord  Bacon 
said,  "  one  mu^t  enter  the  kingdom  of  the  natural  sciences  as  one 
enters  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  like  a  little  child."  A  child  is 
humble,  trustful,  docile,  without  prepossessions,  theories  or  fixed 
opinions.  The  world  before  it  is  like  to  an  Adam  new  and  fresh. 
If  a  botanist  finds  a  strange  flower,  he  lets  the  flower  tell  him 
what  it  is  ;  he  has  neither  knowledge  or  name  for  it ;  what  it  is, 
becomes,  or  rather  is  its  name  ;  if  a  mineralogist  meets  a  strange 
stone  he  asks  it  questions,  and  puts  into  a  stone  only  what  he 
first  gets  out ;  in  like  manner  a  Bible  student  must  wait  on  a  verse 
or  text  or  epistle  or  any  book  or  part  thereof  to  tell  him  what  it 
is.  Many  readers  get  out  of  a  verse  just  what  they  first  put  in, 
and  that  may  be  all  of  man's  wisdom  and  not  at  all  the  mind  oif 
God.  We  must  go  to  the  word  of  God  therefore  with  the  humil- 
ity, simplicity,  and  receptivity  of  a  little  child. 

But  the  question  is  also  what  kind  of  a  child  ;  and  the  answer 
is  a  child  of  God  ;  and  if  a  child  of  God,  then  must  the  Spirit  of 
God  be  the  Light  in  which  to  study  the  words  and  works  of  God. 
The  written  word  is  like  the  word  made  flesh,  divine  and  human, 
and  it  must  be  studied  w^ith  the  light  of  the  divine  Spirit  in  the 
human.     God  alone  can  show  God. 

•  This  is  the  axiom  in  the  study  of  the  two  books,  God  is  :  Heb. 
xi.  6  ;  but  more  needful  to  study  truly  is  it  to  know  not  only  that 
God  is,  but  that  He  is  the  Father,  and  the  student  and  reader  His 
child.  The  *'  natural  man  receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit 
of  God,"  whether  revealed  in  the  Bible  or  in  nature,  for  the  flower 
and  the  Cross  teach  the  same  lesson,  trust  in  God  ;  but  scientists 
rarely  read  the  lessons  from  off  the  lily  and  the  bird  which  Jesus 
full  of  the  Spirit  of  God  read,  Luke  xii.  22-28;  i  Cor.  ix.  lo;  Ps. 
cxix.  18  ;  Amos  iv.  13;  John  i.  1-3  ;  i.  14;  i.  18;  iii.  16-18. 


20  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

God's  word  is  thus  written  for  Plis  children  and  must  be  receiv- 
ed humbly  and  reverently  and  eagerly,  and  in  the  absolute  faith 
in  which  a  child  takes  the  word  of  his  father.  Always  then  take 
for  granted  that  God  is.  Never  try  to  prove  it.  It  is  Father's 
book.  He  wrote  it  Himself.  He  wrote  it  for  us.  Believe  every 
word  of  it,  or  we  shall  never  get  the  good  of  it.  Men  think 
prophecy  is  a  dark  subject,  and  the  only  use  of  it  is  to  prove  that 
God  knew  something  beforehand,  and  that  he  has  not  lied  to  us. 
Prophecy  is  to  teach  God's  children  His  purposes.  A  person 
may  think  he  knows  all  about  the  Bible  because  he  has  read  it 
through  six  or  seven  times.  But  this  may  be  mere  surface  work, 
I  may  go  through  a  country  on  an  express  train  several  times, 
and  still  know  nothing  of  it.  To  walk  through  it  and  get  ac- 
quainted with  its  stones  and  trees  and  flowers  and  delis  and 
streams  and  to  love  it  as  all  my  own,  is  a  very  different  matter. 
We  must  love  the  word  and  not  only  for  our  sake,  but  for  His 
sake  who  is  in  it.  Reading  it  through  and  through  will  do  no 
good,  unless  we  love  it  and  see  into  it  as  a  lover  of  nature  sees 
into  the  woods  and  stones.  In  brief  it  must  be  searched  in  sim- 
plicity, with  colorless  desire  to  be  taught ;  with  earnest  quest,  as 
men  seek  for  a  knowledge  of  nature ;  in  the  receptive,  humble, 
reverent  faith  of  a  child,  with  the  attention  and  intentness  that 
shall  let  nothing  escape  notice  ;  with  the  love  and  appropriation 
with  which  a  child  reads  his  own  father's  letter  for  himself,  and 
above  all,  with  the  dependence  upon  and  illumination  of  the 
Spirit  of  God  which  leads  one  to  unlock  every  Scripture  with  the 
key  of  filial  expectant  prayer.  Such  is  the  way  in  which  we 
should  study  the  word  of  God. 

n.  The  method  of  study  is  the  inductive.  All  the  parts  to  jot 
and  tittle  must  first  be  gathered  together  before  a  conclusion  is 
stated  or  a  name  given.  The  stones  of  one  kind  must  all  be 
brought  together  however  varied  their  forms,  and  the  flowers 
classified  though  scattered  through  many  parts  and  climes.  Ecc. 
iii.  II  ;  Ps.  xl.  5  ;  xix.  1-6. 

Take  a  concordance  and  find  a  word — run  it  through  the  Bible. 
Take  for  instance,  glory,  glorified.  You  will  find  in  it  a  wonder- 
ful line  of  thought.  The  cloud  of  glory  is  associated  with  it.  In 
that  cloud  IS  wrapped  both  the  blessing  and  the  wrath  of  God. 

Study  by  phrases.  Separate  them.  See  how  they  are  used. 
Get  their  meaning  in  every  context.  Find  out  their  exact  force 
and  colour. 

Such  study  will  bring  to  light  resemblances  and  difference's, 
types  and  antitypes,  shadows  and  body,  times  and  seasons, 
peoples  and  dispensations,  the  eternal  purpose,  the  varied  pre- 
paration, and  the  final  fulfilment. 

Such  method  is  self-interpreting,  light  is  seen  in  light,  Ps. 
xxxvi.  9 ;  cxix.  6  ;  and  the  conclusions  reached  become  in  turn 
keys  and  openings  to  further  knowledge.  The  Bible  is  a  living 
growth.  Its  structure  is  mathematical  like  the  universe,  and  its 
numbers  are  symbolic.     It  is  photographic  and  so  microscopic. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  21 

The  thought  is  one  like  the  mind :  one  yet  manifold  through  ages 
of  revelation.  It  is  timeless  as  one  thought  from  the  beginning, 
and  so  can  have  no  contradictions ;  and  when  finished  and  ful- 
filled all  its  seeming  contradictions  will  be  known  as  the  parts  of 
a  vast,  far-reaching  harmony.  The  Old  Testament  is  found  in 
the  New  and  the  New  in  the  Old,  i  Cor.  x.  ii  ;  Rom.  v.  12-19  ; 
Eph.  v.  32 ;   Gal.  iv.  21-31  ;  i  Pet.  iii.  21  ;  Gen.  i.  3  ;  2  Cor.  iv.  6. 

III.  The  instruments,  means,  and  helps  may  be  briefly  stated  in 
the  order  of  their  nearness  to  any  one  : 

I.  A  Reference  Bible.  2.  A  Text-Book.  3.  A  Bible  Diction- 
ary. 4.  A  Concordance.  5.  A  Translation.  6.  An  English- 
man's Greek  Concordance.  7.  A  Commentary.  Never  consult 
a  Commentary  on  any  doctrine  in  cold  blood  ;  think,  study,  search 
first  yourself. 

IV.  The  result  of  such  study  is  life,  love,  worship,  likeness.  One 
leads  to  the  other,  John  xvii.  3  ;  i.  1-4;  i  John  iv.  7-8  ,  Rom.  li. 
32-36  ;  xii.  1-2  ;  John  iv.  20-24  ;  2  Cor.  iii.  18. — Frjm  The  Truth, 


HOW  TO  STUDY  THE  BIBLE. 


First.  There  must  be  a  profound  conviction  of  the  truth  that 
"ALL  Scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of  God,  and  is  profitable 
for  doctrine,  for  reproof  (or  evidence,  as  the  word  is  rendered  in 
Heb.  xi.  i),  for  correction,  for  instruction  in  righteousness,"  (2 
Tim.  iii.  16)  ;  "  For  the  prophecy  came  not  in  old  time  (or,  as  the 
margin  has  it,  at  any  time)  by  the  will  of  man  :  but  holy  men  of 
God  spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,"  (2  Pet.  i.21) ; 
^*  For  this  cause  also  thank  we  God  without  ceasing,  because 
when  ye  received  the  word  of  God  which  ye  heard  of  us,  ye 
received  it  not  as  the  word  of  man,  but,  as  it  is  in  truth,  the  word 
01  God,"  (i  Thess.  ii.  13.) 

Similar  testimony  in  a  more  or  less  direct  and  positive  form 
might  be  cited  trom  hundreds  ol  passages,  lor  the  whole  Bible 
proceeds  upon  the  assumption,  so  apparent  even  to  the  casual 
reader,  that  it  is  the  voice  of  God  speaking  through  men  unto 
men.  It  is  obvious,  therefore,  that  each  little  word,  as  of,  the,  in, 
from,  to,  which  we  are  so  apt  to  overlook  in  human  writings,  is 
worthy  of  particular  and  devout  attention.  It  is  true  that  unim- 
portant errors  may  have  crept  into  this  and  that  version  or  trans- 
lation, but  when  competent  scholarship  conducts  us  to  the  words 
the  Holy  Ghost  really  used,  we  are  to  consider  every  one  of  these 
,as  having  its  own  definite  place  and  meaning  in  the  book  of  God. 
Hence  it  is  never  proper  in  quoting  Scripture  to  give  what  we 
;may  suppose  to  be  its  sense,  but  we  should  see  to  it  that  the  very 
language  of  revelation  is  presented  to  the  minutest  particle. 

Second.  All  Scripture  is  designed  to  lead  us  to  Christ.  "Search 
the  scriptures,"  He  said  to  the  Jews,  and  of  course  He  referred  to 
the  Old   Testament  scriptures;   "for  in  them  ye  think  ye  have 


22  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

eternal  life :  and  they  are  they  which  testify  of  me,"  (John  v.  39). 
He  does  not  say  that  some  of  the  Scriptures  merely,  but  all  of 
them,  testify  of  Him.  "Had  ye  believ^ed  Moses,  ye  would  have 
believed  me  :  for  he  wrote  of  me,")  John  v.  46  ;  "  And  beginning 
at  Moses,  and  all  the  prophets,  he  expounded  unto  them  in  all 
the  scriptures  the  things  concerning  himself,"  (Luke  xxiv.  27)^ 
He  began  at  Moses,  and  not  only  at  some,  but  all  the  prophets, 
and  expounded  unto  them  not  simply  in  some,  but  in  all  the 
Scriptures  the  things  concerning  Himself.  "  These  are  the  words 
which  I  spake  unto  you,  while  I  was  yet  with  you,  that  all  things 
must  be  fulfilled,  which  were  written  in  the  law  of  Moses,  and  in 
the  prophets  and  in  the  psalms,  concerning  me,"  (Luke  xxiv.  44). 
These  were  the  three  great  divisions  of  the  Old  Testament,  and  our 
Lord  declares  that  all  were  written  concerning  Him.  It  is  not 
strange,  therefore,  that  Paul  could  persuade  his  countrymen 
"  concerning  Jesus,  both  out  of  the  law  of  Moses,  and  out  of  the 
prophets,  from  morning  till  evening,"  (Acts  xxviii.  23). 

P'rom  all  this  it  is  clear  that  if  we  read  a  chapter  in  the  Old 
Testament,  and  do  not  see  Christ  there,  we  must  go  back  and 
read  it  again,  for  we  have  not  found  the  key  to  its  true  meaning.. 
Out  of  the  innumerable  events  that  occurred  during  nearly  four 
thousand  years  in  the  history  of  nations  and  families  and  indi- 
viduals, it  pleased  the  Holy  Ghost  to  collect  and  record  only  those 
that  bore  in  the  way  of  type  or  illustration  upon  the  person  and 
work  of  God's  promised  Son.  This  must  be  admitted  at  once  by 
those  who  will  take  the  trouble  to  compare  the  quotations  from 
the  Old  Testament  applied  to  Christ  in  the  New,  that  very  often 
at  least  as  they  originally  appear  do  not  seem  to  have  the  slightest 
reference  to  our  Saviour.  If,  therefore,  some  in  the  early 
Church,  and  in  the  days  of  the  Reformation  carried  their  search 
after  types  to  a  dangerous  extreme,  the  modern  Church  exhibits 
a  tendency  to  a  far  more  dangerous  extreme,  in  the  opposite 
direction,  by  failing  to  see  that  all  the  narratives,  and  offerings,. 
and  feasts,  and  predictions  of  the  Old  Testament  centre  about 
the  cross  and  crown  of  Jesus. 

Third.  We  must  study  the  Bible  with  the  full  persuasion  that 
we  have  to  do  personally  with  all  it  contains.  "  Whatsoever 
things  were  written  aforetime  were  written  for  our  learning,  that 
we  through  patience  and  comfort  of  the  Scriptures  might  have 
hope,"  (Rom.  xv.  4).  The  inspired  apostle,  after  enumerating  a 
number  of  events  that  occurred  in  the  history  of  the  Israelites^ 
says,  "  Now  all  these  things  happened  unto  them  for  ensamples,. 
(or  types,  as  it  is  in  the  margin)  ;  and  they  are  written  for  our 
admonition,  upon  whom  the  ends  of  the  world  are  come,"  (1  Cor. 
X.  11).  We  can  not,  then,  read  the  Old  Testament  as  we  read 
the  history  of  some  ancient  nation,  with  a  feeling  that  it  is  all 
past,  and  that  it  possesses  no  interest  for  ourselves  ;  but  it  has  a 
present  value,  speaking  not  less  earnestly  to  our  souls  than  it  did 
to  those  who  lived  and  died  thousRnds  of  years  before  we  were 
born.     The  abiding  presence  oi  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the  Scriptures 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  2^ 

secures  for  them  all  the  authority  and  potency  oi  an   immediate 
revelation  addressed  directly  to  every  reader. 

Fourth.  It  is  almost  needless  to  add  that  the  Bible  must  be 
studied  with  a  deep  sense  of  our  entire  dependence  for  li^ht  and 
guidance  upon  the  Spirit  of  God.  "The  natural  man,"  or  the 
iiesh,  or  the  Adam  nature  in  a  believer,  is  just  as  ignorant-  and 
helpless  and  perverted  as  the  same  nature  in  an  unbeliever,  and 
it  is  as  true  of  the  natural  man  in  the  former  as  in  the  latter  that 
he  "receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God  :  for  they  are 
foolishness  unto  him :  neither  can  he  know  them,  because  they 
are  spiritually  discerned,"  (i  Cor.  ii."  14).  But  it  is  comforting  to 
hear  our  Lord  saying  concerning  this  Spirit  to  His  followers^ 
"  He  shall  teach  you   all  things,   and  bring  all  things  to  your 

emembrance,   whatsoever  I  have  said  unto  you,"  (John  xiv.   26). 
gain   He   says  in  words  we  should  never  forget  in  connection 

,ith  the  work  ot  the  Spirit,  "  He  shall  testify  of  Me, "(John  xv.  26. J 

J.H.B. 


HOW  TO  STUDY  THE  BIBLE. 


BY    D.    L.    MOODY. 


"  And  all  the  people  gathered  themselves  together  as  one  man  into  t'.ie  street  that 
was  before  the  water-gate  ;  and  they  spake  unto  Ezra  the  scribe  to  bring  the  book 
of  the  law  of  Moses,  which  the  Lord  had  commanded  to  Israel.  And  Ezra  the 
priest  broug^ht  the  law  before  the  congregation  both  of  men  and  women,  and  all  that 
could  hear  with  understanding,  upon  the  first  day  of  the  seventh  month.  And  he 
read  therein  before  the  street  that  was  before  the  water-gate  from  morning  until 
mid-day,  before  the  men  and  the  women,  and  those  that  could  understand  ;  and  the 
ears  of  all  the  people  were  attentive  unto  the  book  of  the  law.'' — Nehemiah  viii.  1-3 

The  children  of  Israel  had  been  in  captivity  for  seventy  years, 
and  now  they  had  come  back  into  their  own  land ;  and  the 
description  given  in  these  verses  is  what  we  should  call  a  Bible- 
reading  ;  just  getting  the  people  together  and  reading  the  Word 
of  the  Lord  to  them.  And  perhaps  it  would  be  a  good  thing  if 
we  could  have  more  meetings  where  the  Word  of  God  is  read  and 
explained.  It  is  better  to  hear  God  rather  than  man,  and  I  be- 
lieve we  are  living  in  a  day  when  the  Bible  is  neglected,  although 
we  are  living  in  a  land  of  Bibles. 

The  children  of  Israel  had  been  in  a  strange  land,  and  God 
wished  them  to  understand  His  law.  It  says  that  they  were 
attentive  to  the  law ;  that  is  to  say,  they  were  just  leaning  for- 
ward and  drinking  in  the  words  that  were  read  to  them.  You 
have  sometimes  seen  a  nest  of  birds,  and  the  mother  comes  with 
a  little  worm  to  leed  them,  and  in  an  instant  every  mouth  is  wide 
open  ;  and  in  like  manner  every  one  of  us  ought  to  have  our  ears 
wide  open  to  catch  the  meaning  of  the  Word  of  God  when  it  is 
read  to  us,  and  if  there  is  anything  we  don't  understand  we  ought 
to  go  to  the  minister  and  have  an  enquiry  meeting  with  him,  and 
ask  him  to  explain  it  to  us. 


24  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE     READINGS. 

We  read  in  the  ninth  verse,  "For  all  the  people  wept  when 
they  heard  the  words  of  the  law.  Then  he  said  unto  them,  Go 
your  way,  eat  the  fat,  and  drink  the  sweet,  and  send  portions 
unto  them  for  whom  nothing  is  prepared  :  for  this  day  is  holy  unto 
the  Lord  ;  neither  be  ye  sorry  ;  for  the  joy  of  the  Lord  is  your 
strength,"  What  we  want,  now-a-days,  brethren  is  a  joyful 
church.  If  we  are  in  Babylon,  with  our  harps  hanging  on  the 
willow  trees  and  our  heads  bowed  down,  we  are  not  likely  to 
succeed  in  winning  souls  to  Christ.  No  ;  it  is  when  we  are  back 
again  on  the  resurrection  ground  that  we  may  hope  to  succeed  in 
that.  A  backsliding  church  is  a  nuisance  in  the  world.  It  is  just 
a  stumbling-block,  and  nothing  more.  In  the  seventeenth  verse 
we  read,  "  And  all  the  congregation  of  them  that  were  come 
again  out  of  the  captivity  made  booths,  and  sat  under  the  booths  ; 
for  since  the  days  ol  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun  unto  that  day  had  not 
the  children  of  Israel  done  so.  And  there  was  very  great  gladness." 
And  there  always  will  be  great  gladness  when  a  backsliding 
people  come  back  to  God. 

The  Word  of  God  in  the  Heart. — When  the  Israelites 
were  going  into  Babylon,  trodden  down  by  their  oppressors  and 
led  away  into  a  foreign  land,  we  read  in  Jeremiah  xx.  9.  "  Then 
I  said,  I  will  not  make  mention  ol  Him,  nor  speak  any  more  in 
His  name  :  but  His  word  was  in  my  heart  as  a  burning  fire  shut 
up  in  my  bones,  and  I  was  weary  with  forebearing,  and  I  could 
not  stay."  Yes,  it  is  a  good  thing  to  have  the  Word  of  God  in 
our  hearts,  so  that  it  just  burns  within  us,  and  we  cannot  hold  our 
peace.  When  the  Psalmist  said  it  was  hidden  in  his  heart,  some 
one  has  remarked  that  it  was  a  good  thing  in  a  good  place,  for  a 
good  purpose.  We  want  the  Word  to  burn  right  down  into  our 
souls  ;  then  a  man  cannot  restrain  himself,  it  begins  to  burn,  so 
that  it  would  actually  burn  him  up  if  he  held  his  peace  and  did 
not  speak  out.  "  Is  not  my  Word  like  as  a  fire,  saith  the  Lord, 
and  like  a  hammer  that  breaketh  a  rock  in  pieces  ?"  The  Word 
of  God  is  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  and  if  you  young  converts  want 
to  be  used  of  God  you  must  feed  on  His  word.  Your  experience 
may  be  very  good  and  very  profitable  at  the  outset,  and  you  may 
help  others  by  telling  it  to  them  ;  but  if  you  keep  on  doing  nothing 
else  but  telling  your  experience,  it  will  soon  become  stale  and  un- 
profitable, and  people  will  weary  -of  hearing  the  same  thing  over 
and  over  again.  But  when  you  have  told  how  you  have  been 
converted,  the  next  thing  is  to  feed  on  the  Word.  We  are  not 
fountains  ourselves,  but  the  Word  of  God  is  the  fountain.  And  ii 
we  feed  on  the  Word,  it  will  be  so  easy  then  to  speak  to  others  ; 
and  not  only  that,  but  we  shall  be  growing  all  the  while  in  grace, 
and  others  will  take  notice  of  our  walk  and  conversation. 

Now,  I  never  saw  a  useful  Christian  who  was  not  a  student  of 
the  Bible.  If  a  man  neglects  his  Bible,  he  may  pray  and  ask  God 
to  use  him  in  his  work,  but  God  cannot  make  use  of  him  ;  for 
there  is  not  much  for  the  Holy  Ghost  to  work  upon.  We  must 
have  the  Word  itself,  which  is  sharper  than  any  two-edged  sword, 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  2^ 

Now,  if  you  read  the  sermon  spoken  by  Moses  before  he  left  the 
children  of  Israel,  you  will  find  it  was  just  a  rehearsal  of  what 
G'  1  had  done  for  them,  and  of  their  deliverance  from  the  cruei 
hai.ds  ot  Pharaoh  ;  of  the  destruction  of  their  enemies  in  the  Red 
Sea,  and  their  safe  conduct  through  the  wilderness  ;  and  yet  I  do 
not  suppose  there  was  a  boy  in  the  camp  who  could  not  have 
told  it  ten  times  over.  And  you  will  find  that  Joshua  did  the 
same  ;  and  when  Peter  stood  up  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lord  was  in  him,  and  he  went  on  quoting  Scripture 
to  the  people,  and  that  was  the  arrow  that  went  down  into 
their  souls.  Then,  again,  w^hat  did  the  devout  and  martyred 
Stephen  do  but  just  rehearse  and  expound  the  Scriptures  irom  the 
time  of  Abraham  downwards  ? 

Victory  by  the  Word. — People  are  constantly  saying,  We 
want  something  new  ;  some  new  doctrine,  some  new  idea.  Depend 
upon  it,  my  friends,  ii  you  get  tired  of  the  Word  oi  God,  and  it 
becomes  wearisome  to  you — you  are  out  oi  communion  with  Him. 
What  you  want  is  some  one  who  will  untold  and  expound  the 
Scriptures  to  you.  We  cannot  overcome  Satan  witt  our  ieelings. 
The  reason  why  some  people  have  such  bitter  experience  is,  they 
try  to  overcome  the  devil  by  their  ieelings  and  experiences.  Christ 
overcame  Satan  by  the  Word.  He  simply  said  :  "It  is  written  ;" 
and  a  second  time,  "  It  is  written  ;"  and  Satan  came  again  and 
tried  to  misquote  the  Scripture,  but  Christ  said  again,  "  It  is 
written,"  and  that  was  the  arrow  that  shot  right  into  him,  and 
drove  him  away.  The  devil  does  not  care  a  bit  about  our  ieelings. 
He  can  play  on  our  ieelings  just  as  a  man  can  on  a  harp.  He  can 
make  our  Ieelings  good  or  bad  ;  he  can  take  us  up  on  the  mountain 
or  down  into  the  vallej^ ;  and  we  can  only  vanquish  him  by  the 
Word,  which  is  the  sword  ot  the  Spirit. 

And  then  bear  in  mind  there  is  no  situation  in  life  for  which 
you  cannot  find  some  w^ord  of  consolation  in  Scripture.  It  you 
are  in  affliction  there  is  a  promise  ior  you  ;  if  you  are  in  adversity 
and  trial,  there  is  a  promise  for  you  :  in  joy  and  sorrow,  in  health 
and  in  sickness,  in  poverty  or  in  riches,  in  every  condition  o±  life, 
God  has  a  promise  stored  up  in  His  Word  for  you. 

Three  Books  every  Christian  Should  Have. — I  can  imagine 
some  persons  asking.  How  can  I  get  to  be  in  love  with  the  Bible  ? 
Well,  if  you  will  only  rouse  yourselves  to  the  study  of  it,  and  ask 
God's  assistance,  He  will  assuredly  help  you.  There  are  three 
books  which  1  think  every  Christian  ought  to  possess.  The  first, 
ol  course,  is  the  Bible.  I  believe  in  getting  a  good  Bible,  with  a 
good  plain  print.  I  have  not  much  love  tor  those  little  Bibles  you 
have  to  hold  up  right  under  your  nose  to  read  the  print ;  and  if 
the  church  happens  to  be  a  little  dark  you  cannot  see  the  print : 
but  it  becomes  a  mere  jumble  o±  words.  Yes,  but  some  ol  you 
say  you  cannot  carry  a  big  Bible  in  your  pocket.  Very  well,  then 
carry  it  under  your  arm ;  and  if  you  have  to  walk  five  miles  you  will 
just  be  preaching  a  sermon  five  miles  long.  I  have  known  a  man 
convicted  by  seeing   another  carrying  his    Bible  under  his  arm. 


20  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

You  are  not  ashamed  to  carry  hymn-books  and  prayer-books,  and 
the  Bible  is  worth  all  the  hymn-books  and  prayer-books  in  the 
world  put  together.  And  if  you  get  a  good  Bible  you  are  likely 
iw  take  better  care  of  it.  Suppose  you  pay  thirty  shillings  lor  a 
good  Bible,  the  older  you  grow  the  more  precious  it  will  become 
to  you.  But  be  sure  you  don't  get  one  so  good  that  you  will  be 
afraid  to  mark  it.  The  next  I  would  advise  you  to  get  Cruden's 
Concordance,  and  a  "  Scripture  text-book,"  not  a  "  Birthday  text- 
book." These  books  will  help  you  study  the  Word  ol  God  with 
profit.  If  you  have  not  got  them,  get  them  to  morrow,  for  every 
Christian  ought  to  have  them. 

Study  Topically. — Then  I  find  one  ol  the  best  ways  to  study 
the  Scriptures  is  to  study  them  topically.  I  used  at  one  time  to 
read  so  many  chapters  a  day,  and  it  I  did  not,  I  thought  I  was 
getting  cold  and  backsliding  ;  but  mind  you,  if  a  man  had  asked 
me  two  hours  afterwards  what  I  had  read  I  could  not  tell  him^ 
I  had  forgotten  it  nearly  all.  When  I  was  a  boy  I  used,  among 
other  things,  to  hoe  turnips  on  a  farm,  and  I  used  to  hoe  them  so- 
badly,  to  get  over  so  much  ground,  that  at  night  I  had  to  put  down 
a  stick  in  the  ground  so  as  to  know  next  morning  where  I  had  left 
off.  That  was  somewhat  in  the  same  fashion  as  running  through 
so  many  chapters  every  day.  A  man  will  say  :  *'  Wife,  did  I  read 
that  chapter .?"  *'  Well,"  says  she,  "  I  don't  remember,"  and 
neither  of  them  can  recollect,  and  perhaps  he  reads  the  same 
chapter  over  and  over  again  ;  and  they  call  that  studying  the 
Bible.  I  don't  think  there  is  a  book  in  the  world  we  neglect  so* 
much  as  the  Bible.  Merely  reading  the  Bible  is  no  use  at  all 
without  we  study  it  thoroughly,  and  hunt  it  through  as  it  were 
for  some  great  truth.  If  a  friend  were  to  see  me  searching  about 
this  building,  and  were  to  come  up  and  say,  "  Moody,  what  are 
you  looking  for?  have  you  lost  something?"  and  I  were  to  say, 
**  No,  I  haven't  lost  anything,  I'm  not  looking  for  anything  par- 
ticular," I  fancy  he  would  just  let  me  go  on  by  myself,  and  think 
me  very  foolish.  But  if  I  were  to  say,  "  Yes,  I  have  lost  a  sov- 
ereign," why,  then,  I  might  expect  him  to  help  me  to  find  it.  Read 
the  Bible,  my  friends,  as  if  you  were  seeking  for  something  of 
value.  It  is  a  good  deal  better  to  take  a  single  chapter  and  spend 
a  month  on  it,  than  to  read  the  Bible  at  random  for  a  month. 

Work  Out  Subjects. — I  find  some  people  now  and  then  who- 
boast  that  they  have  read  the  Bible  through  in  so  many  month^. 
Others  read  the  Bible  chapter  by  chapter,  and  get  through  it  in  a 
year  ;  but  I  think  it  would  be  ahnost  better  to  spend  a  year  over 
one  chapter.  If  I  were  going  into  a  court  of  justice,  and  wanted 
to  carry  the  jury  with  me,  I  would  get  every  witness  I  could  tO' 
'■'^stiiy  to  the  one  point  on  which  I  wanted  to  convince  the  jury, 
i  would  not  get  them  to  testify  everything,  but  just  on  that  one 
thing  ;  and  so  it  should  be  with  the  Scriptures.  I  io:.k  up  that 
word  "love,"  and  I  don't  know  how  many  weeks  I  spent  in  study- 
ing the  passages  in  which  it  occurs,  till  at  last  I  couldn't  hel^ 
loving  people.     I    had    been   leedmg  so  long  on    love  that  I  was 


NOTES   FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  27 

anxious  to  do  everybody  good  that  I  came  in  contact  with.  Take 
up  grace,  take  up  taith,  take  up  assurance.  Some  people  say,  I 
don't  beUeve  in  assurance.  I  never  knew  anybody  who  read  their 
Bible  but  beheved  in  assurance.  This  book  teaches  nothing  else. 
Paul  says — "  I  know  in  whom  I  have  believed."  Job  says — "  I 
know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth."  It  is  not,  "  I  hope,  I  trust." 
The  best  book  on  assurance  was  written  by  one  called  "  John,"  at 
the  back  part  of  the  Bible.  He  wrote  an  epistle  on  assurance. 
Sometimes  you  just  get  a  word  that  will  be  a  sort  of  key  to  the 
epistle,  and  which  unioids  it.  Now,  if  you  turn  to  John  xx.  31, 
you  will  find  it  says — "  These  are  written,  that  ye  might  believe 
that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God  ;  and  that  believing  ye 
might  have  life  through  his  name."  Then  if  you  turn  to  i  John 
V.  13  you  will  read  thus  :  "  These  things  have  I  written  unto  you 
that  believe  on  the  name  of  the  Son  of  God  ;  that  ye  may  know- 
that  ye  have  eternal  life,  and  that  ye  may  believe  on  the  name  of 
the  Son  of  God."  That  whole  epistle  is  written  on  assurance.  I 
have  no  doubt  John  had  found  some  people  who  doubted  about 
assurance,  and  doubted  whether  they  were  saved  or  not,  and 
he  takes  up  his  pen  and  says,  "  I  will  settle  that  question  ;"  and 
he  writes  that  last  verse  in  the  twentieth  chapter  of  his  gospel. 
I  have  heard  some  people  say  it  was  not  their  privilege  to  know 
that  they  were  saved  ;  they  had  heard  the  minister  say  that  no  one 
could  know  whether  they  were  saved  or  not,  and  they  took  what 
the  minister  said  instead  of  what  the  Word  of  God  said.  Others 
read  the  Bible  to  make  it  fit  in  and  prove  their  favourite  creed  or 
notions,  and  it  it  did  not  do  so  they  would  not  read  it.  It  has. 
been  well  said,  that  they  must  not  read  the  Bible  by  the  blue  light 
of  Presbyterianism,  nor  the  red  light  of  Methodism,  nor  the 
violet  light  of  Episcopalianism,butbythe  light  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 
Now,  if  you  will  ju'.t  take  up  your  Bible  and  study  assurance  lor 
a  week  you  will  soon  see  it  is  your  privilege  to  know  that  you  are 
a  child  of  God. 

Feed  on  the  Promises. — Then  take  another  thing — the  pro- 
mises of  God.  Let  a  man  feed  for  a  month  on  the  promises  of 
God,  and  he  will  not  be  talking  about  how  poor  he  is.  You 
hear  people  say — "  Oh,  my  leanness  !  how  lean  I  am  !"  My 
friends,  it  is  not  their  leanness,  it  is  their  laziness.  If  you  would 
only  go  from  Genesis  to  Revelation,  and  see  all  the  promises  made 
by  God  to  Abraham,  to  Isaac,  and  to  Jacob,  to  the  Jews  and  the 
Gentiles,  and  to  all  his  people  everywhere  ;  if  you  were  to  spend 
a  month  feeding  on  the  precious  promises  of  God,  you  wouldn't 
be  going  about  with  your  heads  hanging  down  like  bulrushes,  com- 
plaining how  poor  you  are  ;  but  you  would  lift  up  your  heads  with 
confidence,  and  proclaim  the  riches  of  His  grace,  because  you 
couldn't  help  it.  After  the  Chicago  fire  a  man  came  up  to  me 
and  said  in  a  sympathising  tone,  "  I  understand  you  lost  every- 
thing, Moody,  in  the  Chicago  fire."  "  Well,  then,"  said  I,  "  some 
one  has  misinformed  you."  "  Indeed  !  Why  I  was  certainly  told 
you  had  lost  all."  "  No  ;  its  a  mistake,"  I  said,  "quite  a  mistake.'* 


a8  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

**  Have  you  got  much  left  then  ?"  asked  my  friend.  "  Yes,"  I 
repUed,  "  I  have  g'^t  much  more  left  than  I  lost,  though  I  cannot 
tell  how  much  I  have  lost."  "Well,  I  am  glad  of  it.  Moody;  I  did 
not  know  you  were  that  rich  before  the  fire."  "  Yes,"  said  I,  "  I 
am  a  good  deal  richer  than  you  could  conceive  j  and  hore  is  my 
title-deed — '  He  that  overcometh  shall  inherit  all  things.'"  Th^y 
say  the  Rothschilds  cannot  tell  how  much  they  are  worth,  and 
that's  just  my  case.  All  things  in  the  world  are  mine ;  I  am 
joint-hieir  with  Jesus,  the  Son  of  God. 

Then  suppose  you  spend  a  month  on  "  prayer,"  run  through  the 
Scriptures  on  prayer  ;  why,  then  the  Bible  becomes  a  new  book  to 
you.  And  then  take  up  hope,  and  faith,  ind  grace,  and  feed  on 
them.  I  remember  the  first  time  I  studied  grace  I  got  so  full  of  it 
that  I  stopped  every  man  and  woman  I  met,  and  told  them  how- 
God  loved  them.  When  Christ  came  with  His  message  of  grace 
to  the  Jews  the  bottles  would  not  hold  ;  it  burst  the  bottles,  and 
began  to  flow  on  to  the  Gentiles  all  around.  And  then  they  got 
.angry  with  Him,  and  sought  to  put  Him  to  death.  You  may  pray 
for  the  blessing,  but  if  you  neglect  your  Bible  you  won't  get  it. 

Study  One  Book  at  a  Time. — Then  another  way  is  to  study 
one  book  at  a  time.  If  you  take  Genesis,  it  is  the  seed-plant  of 
the  whole  Bible;  it  tells  us  of  life,  death,  resurrection  ;  it  involves 
all  the  rest  of  the  Bible.  Or  take  iust  one  w:rd  that  runs  through 
Si  book.  Some  time  ago  I  was  wonderfully  blessed  by  taking  the 
seven  blessings  of  the  Revelation.  If  God  did  not  wish  us  to 
understand  the  Revelation  He  would  not  have  given  it  us  at  all. 
A  good  many  say  it  is  so  dark  and  mysterious  common  readers 
-cannot  understand  it.  Let  us  only  keep  digging  away  at  it,  and 
it  will  unfold  itself  by-and-by.  Some  one  says  it  is  the  only  book 
in  the  Bible  that  tells  about  the  devil  being  chained  ;  and  as  the 
devil  knows  that  he  goes  up  and  down  Christendom,  and  says, 
^'  It's  no  use  your  reading  your  Revelation  ;  j'-ou  cannot  understand 
the  book  ;  it's  too  hard  for  you."  The  fact  is  he  dosen't  want  you 
to  understand  about  his  own  defeat.  Just  look  at  the  blessings  it 
contains.  In  chapter  xxii.  14,  "  Blessed  are  they  that  do  Hia 
commandments,  that  they  may  have  right  to  the  tree  of  life,  and 
may  enter  in  through  the  gates  into  the  city ;"  chapter  xvi.  15, 
*'  Blessed  is  he  that  watcheth  and  keepeth  His  garments;"  chapter 
XX.  7,  "  Blessed  is  he  that  keepeth  the  saying  of  the  prophecy  of 
this  book." 

Then  there  is  a  blessing  on  them  that'  are  kept  from  the  world. 
We  do  not  belong  to  the  world,  but  belong  to  the  new  creation. 
God  has  taken  us  out  of  the  old  and  put  us  in  the  new,  and  there- 
lore  we  keep  ourselves  from  the  world.  ''  Blessed  are  those  that 
die  in  the  Lord  ;  for  they  shall  rest  from  their  labors."  "  Blessed 
are  they  that  have  part  in  the  first  resurrection  ;  for  on  such  the 
second  death  hath  no  power  ;  and  they  shall  live  and  reign  with 
Christ  a  thousand  years."  "  Blessed  are  they  that  are  called  to 
the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb."  Or  you  may  take  the  eight 
*' overcomes"  of  Revelation,  and  you  -will  get  wonderfully  blessed 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGb.  29 

vith  them.     They  take  you  right  up  to  heaven  ;  you  climb  by 
Jiem  fight  up  to  the  throne  of  God. 

Assurance. — There  is  that  word  "  know"  I  mentioned  just  now.. 
It  occurs  six  times  in  i  John  iii.  In  the  fifth  verse  it  says  :  "  And 
ye  know  that  He  was  manifest  to  take  away  our  sins  ;  and  in  Him 
_s  no  sin."  The  next  is  the  nineteenth  verse :  ''  Hereby  we  know 
that  we  are  of  the  truth."  Some  people  tell  us  that  it  doesn't 
make  any  difference  ;  that  a  lie  is  as  good  as  the  truth  if  we  are 
only  sincere.  Why,  no  doubt  those  false  prophets  on  mount 
Carmel  were  sincere  ;  but  John  says,  "  Hereby  we  know  that  we 
are  of  the  truth.''  Then,  in  tHe  fourteenth  verse  :  "  We  know  that 
we  have  passed  from  death  unto  life,  because  we  love  the  brethren." 
There's  assurance  for  you.  Then,  in  the  fifteenth  verse:  "  He  that 
hateth  his  brother  is  a  murderer  ;  and  ye  know  that  no  murderer 
hath  eternal  life  abiding  in  him."  The  Christian  is  not  lull  of 
jealousy,  envy,  hatred,  and  malice  ;  but  he  is  full  of  "  love,  joy,, 
peace,  long-suffering,  gentleness,  goodness,- faith,  meekness,  tem- 
perance." These  are  the  fruits  I  shall  bear  if  I  have  got  Christ  in 
me.  Yes,  that  fifth  chapter  of  Galatians  will  soon  tell  us  if  we 
have  got  the  right  kind  of  fruit.  Make  the  tree  right,  and  you 
will  soon  have  the  right  fruit.  Then,  in  the  twenty-fourth  verse  : 
"  He  that  keepeth  His  commandments  dwelleth  in  Him,  and  He  in 
him.  And  hereby  we  ^fzow  that  He  abideth  in  us,.by  the  spirit 
which  He  hath  given  us."  Then,  in  the  second  verse  :  *'  Beloved, 
now  are  we  the  sons  of  God,  and  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we 
shall  be  ;  but  ^ve  know  that  when  He  shall  appear  we  shall  belike 
Him  ;  for  we  shall  see  Him  as  He  is."  There's  assurance  for  you 
again  !  In  that  one  chapter  six  assurances.  Every  truth  I  get^ 
my  friends,  seems  to  make  me  lighter  and  lighter,  till  I  expect  to 
fly  away  by-and-by.  I  heard  Mr.  Aitken  one  day,  and  he  told  Ub 
about  a  boy  who  had  some  gas-bags  fastened  round  him,  and  they 
were  so  light  that  when  he  came  to  a  hedge  or  a  ditch  he  had  only 
just  to  touch  the  bags  and  away  they  carried  him  right  over.  And 
it  is  just  the  same  when  we  read  the  Bible,  it  makes  us  lighter  and 
lighter,  and  we  leap  over  the  obstacles  in  our  way.  The  truth 
makes  us  freer  and  freer.  A  brother  in  the  Lord  gave  me  some 
key-notes  this  week.  He  said  Peter  wrote  about  hope,  "when  the 
chief  Shepherd  shall  appear;"  the  key-note  of  Paul's  writing, 
appeared  to  be  ot  faith,  and  of  John's  love.  "  Faith,  hope,  and 
charity  ;"  these  were  the  three  characteristics  of  the  three  men — 
the  key-note  to  the  whole  of  their  teachings. 

The  Gospel  of  John. — Then,  again,  I  have  been  greatly  blessed 
by  going  thpough  the  "  believings"  oi  John.  As  I  said  before,  he 
wrote  his  gospel  that  we  might  believe.  All  through  it  is  "  believe^ 
believe,  believe."  If  you  want  to  persuade  a  man  that  Christ  is 
the  Son  of  God,  John  is  the  gospel  for  him.  Take  him  right  into 
and  through  the  gospel  of  John.  Matthew  was  a  Jew,  and  he 
writes  of  Christ  as  a  Jew — as  the  Son  of  David  coming  to  take 
His  throne.  He  commences  with  Abraham,  and  he  treats  oi  the 
kingdom  all  the  way  down  to  Christ.     Mark  begins  with  Malachi, 


30  NOTES   FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 

He  takes  it  up  where  the  Old  Testament  left  off,  and  speaks  of 
Christ  as  a  servant  coming  to  do  the  will  of  God.  Luke  begins 
with  Zacharias.  He  takes  up  the  human  side  and  speaks  of  Him 
as  a  physician,  healing  the  sick,  making  the  lame  to  walk,  and 
giving  sight  to  the  blind.  But  John  brings  Him  out  of  the  bosom 
of  the  Father.  He  goes  beyond  Malachi,  beyond  Abraham,  be- 
yond Adam — away  beyond  the  morning  stars,  and  brings  Him 
out  of  the  Father's  bosom,  and  with  one  stroke  of  the  pen  settles 
the  question  of  Unitarianism  for  ever.  John  was  no  Unitarian  : 
every  word  he  wrote  was  against  it.  He  says  the  Son  of  God 
was  manifest  in  the  flesh.  Go  through  John's  Gospel,  and  study 
the  "  believes,"  the  '•  verilys,"  the  **  I  ams,"  and  go  through  the 
Bible  in  that  way,  and  it  becomes  a  new  book  to  you. 

Make  Marginal  Notes. — Another  plan,  and  a  good  one, 
too,  is  when  a  preacher  gives  out  a  text  just  take  and  mark  it,  and 
as  he  goes  on  preaching,  iust  put  a  few  words  in  the  margin,  key- 
words that  shall  bring  back  the  whole  sermon  again.  By  that 
plan  of  making  a  few  marginal  notes,  I  can  remember  sermons  I 
heard  years  and  years  ago.  Every  man  ought  to  take  down  some 
of  the  preacher's  words  and  ideas,  and  go  into  some  lane  or  alley 
and  preach  them  out  again  to  others.  We  ought  to  have  four  ears, 
two  for  ourselves  and  two  for  other  people.  Then,  if  you  are  in  a 
new  town,  and  have  nothing  else  to  say,  jump  up  and  say,  "  I 
heard  some  one  say  so-and-so,"  and  they  will  always  be  glad  to 
hear  your  if  you  give  them  heavenly  food.  The  world  is  perishing 
for  lack  of  it. 

Little  and  Wise. — Some  time  ago,  about  eight  years,  I 
think,  I  heard  an  Englishman  in  Chicago  preach  from  a  curious 
text  (Proverbs  xxx.  24):  "  There  be  four  things  which  are  little 
upon  the  earth,  but  they  are  exceeding  wise."  "Well,"  said  I  to 
myself,  "  what  will  you  make  of  these  little  things  ?  I  have  seen 
them  a  good  many  times."  Then  he  went  on  reading,  "  The  ants 
are  a  people  not  strong,  yet  they  prepare  their  meat  in  the  summer." 
He  said  God's  people  were  like  the  ant.  "  Well,"  I  said,  "  I  have 
seen  a  good  many  of  them,  but  I  never  saw  one  like  me."  They 
were  like  the  ants,  he  said,  because  they  were  laying  up  treasure 
in  heaven,  and  preparing  for  the  future  ;  but  the  world  rushed 
madly  on,  and  forgot  all  about  God's  command  to  lay  up  for  our- 
selves incorruptible  treasures.  "  The  conies  are  but  a  feeble  folk, 
yet  make  they  their  houses  in  the  rocks."  He  said  the  conies  were 
very  weak  things  ;  if  you  were  to  throw  a  stick  at  one  of  them  you 
would  kill  it :  but  they  were  vejy  wise,  for  they  built  their  houses 
in  the  rocks,  and  where  they  are  out  of  harm's  way.  And  God's 
people  are  very  wise,  although  very  feeble,  for  they  build  on  the 
Rock  of  Ages,  and  that  Rock  is  Christ.  "  Well,"  I  said,  "  I  am 
certainly  like  the  conies."  Then  came  the  next  verse:  "The 
locusts  have  no  king,  yet  go  they  forth  all  of  them  in  bands  ;"  and 
I  wondered  what  he  was  going  to  make  of  that.  Now  God's  people, 
he  said,  had  no  king  down  here  ;  the  world  said,  "  Caesar  is  our 
king  ;"  but  he  was  not  our  king,  our  king  was  the  Lord  of  hosts. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  3I 

The  locusts  went  out  by  bands,  so  did  God's  people  ;  here  was  a 
Presbyterian  band,  here  an  Episcopalian  band,  here  a  Methodist 
band,  and  so  on  ;  but  by-and-by  the  great  King  would  come  and 
catch  up  all  those  separate  bands  and  they  would  all  be  one,  one 
'fold  and  one  shepherd.  And  when  1  heard  that  explanation  I  said, 
"**  I  would  like  to  be  the  locusts."  I  have  got  so  sick,  my  friends, 
of  this  miserable  denominationalism,  I  wish  it  could  all  be  swept 
away.  Well,  he  went  on  again.  "  The  spider  taketh  hold  with 
her  hands,  and  is  in  king's  palaces."  ,  Well,  when  he  got  to  the 
spider,  I  said,  "  I  don't  like  that  at  all,  and  don't  like  the  idea  of 
being  compared  to  a  spider."  *'  But,"  he  said,  "  if  you  went  into 
a  king's  palace  there  was  the  spider  hanging  on  his  gossamer  web, 
and  looking  down  with  scorn  and  contempt  on  the  gilded  saloon  ; 
he  was  laying  hold  of  things  above.  And  so  every  child  oi  God 
ought  to  be  like  the  spider,  and  lay  hold  of  the  unseen  things  ol  God." 
*'And  so,"  he  said,  "you  see,my  brethren,  we  who  are  God's  people 
are  like  the  ants,  the  conies,  the  locusts,  and  the  spider,  little  things, 
but  exceeding  wise."  I  iust  put  that  down,  my  friends,  and  the 
recollection  of  it  does  me  as  murh  good  this  morning  as  when  I 
first  heard  it. 

Now,  I  have  carried  this  Biole  with  me  a  good  many  years.  It 
is  worth  more  to  me  than  all  the  Bibles  in  this  place,  and  I  will 
tell  you  why  ;  because  I  have  got  so  many  passages  marked  in  it, 
and  if  I  am  called  upon  to  speak  at  any  time  I  am  ready.  I  have 
got  these  little  words  in  the  margin,  and  they  are  a  sermon  to  me. 
Whether  I  speak  about  faith,  hope,  charity,  assurance,  or  any 
subject  whatever,  it  all  comes  back  to  me  ;  and  however  unexpec- 
tedly I  am  called  upon  to  preach,  I  am  always  ready.  Ever}'-  child 
of  God  ought  to  be  like  a  soldier,  and  always  hold  himself  in 
readiness.  If  the  Queen's  arm}^  were  ordered  to  India  to-morrow, 
the  soldier  is  ready  for  the  iourney  ;  but  we  can't  be  ready  if  we 
don't  study  the  Bible.  So  whenever  you  hear  a  good  thing  iust 
put  it  down,  because  if  it's  good  for  you  it  will  be  good  for  some- 
body else  ;  and  we  should  pass  the  coin  of  heaven  round  just  as  we 
do  the  sovereigns  and  other  current  coin  of  the  realm. 

Job,  the  Key  to  the  Bible. — In  the  year  1872  an  Englishman 
remarked  to  me  ;  "  Mr.  Moody,  did  you  ever  notice  this,  that  the 
book  of  Job  is  the  key  to  the  whole  Bible  ;  if  you  understand  Job 
you  will  understand  the  entire  Bible  ?"  "  No,"  I  said,  "  I  don't 
understand  that.  Job  the  key  to  the  whole  Bible  !  How  do  you 
make  that  out  ?"  He  said,  "  I  divide  Job  into  seven  heads.  You 
know  ministers  generally  have  a  great  many  heads  to  their  sermons. 
The  first  head  is  :  A  perfect  man  untried.  That's  what  God  said 
about  Job  ;  that's  Adam  in  Eden.  He  was  perfect  when  God  put 
him  there.  The  second  head  is  ;  Tried  by  adversity;  and  Job  fell 
as  Adam  fell  in  Eden.  The  third  head  is:  The  wisdom  of  the  world. 
The  world  tries  to  restore  Job  ;  the  three  wise  men  came  to  help 
Job.  That  was  the  wisdom  of  the  world  centred  in  those  three 
men."  "  You  cannot,"  said  he,  "find  any  such  eloquent  language 
or  wisdom  anywhere  in  any  part  of  the  world  as  these  three  men 


32  NOTTT.S    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

had  ;  but  they  did  not  know  anything  about  grace,  and  could  not 
therefore  help  Job."  And  that's  just  what  men  are  trying  to  do^ 
and  the  result  is  they  fail.  Take  the  scientific  men  of  our  day  who 
talk  against  the  Bible.  Have  they  made  the  world  any  better  ? 
The  wisdom  of  man  never  made  man  any  better.  These  three  men 
did  not  help  Job,  but  they  made  him  worse.  Some  one  has  said 
the  first  man  took  him  and  gave  him  a  good  pull,  and  then  the 
second  and  third  did  the  same,  and  the  three  of  them  had  three 
good  pulls  at  Job,  and  then  flat  down  they  fell.  Yes,  my  friends,, 
and  a  good  many  men  fall  when  they  get  into  an  argument.  Very 
unprofitable  things  these  arguments  are.  Job  could  stand  anything 
better  than  those  three  men  ;  he  could  even  have  stood  a  scolding 
wife  better  than  his  three  friends.  "  Then  in  the  fourth  place," 
said  he,  "  in  comes  the  Daysman,"  that  is  Christ.  Then  in  the 
filth  place,  God  speaks^  and  in  the  sixth,  Job  learns  his  lesson.  *'  I 
have  heard  of  Thee  by  the  hearing  of  the  ear ;  but  now  mine  eye 
secth  Thee.  Wherefore  I  abhor  myself,  and  repent  in  dust  and 
ashes.  And  then  down  came  Job  flat  on  the  dunghill.  '*  I  abhor, 
myself,"  and  down  he  went  in  the  dust  ;  and  had  learnt  his  lesson. 
*' And  the  seventh  head  is  this,  ihdit  God  restores  him.''  Thank 
God,  my  friends,  it  is  so  with  us,  and  our  last  state  is  better  than 
our  first. 

I  would  rather  be  a  resurrected  man  with  Christ  than  be  Adam 
in  Eden  without  Christ.  Adam  might  have  been  in  Eden  ten 
thousand  years,  and  the  devil  might  have  come  in  and  he  might 
have  fallen.  But  now  Satan  cannot  get  at  us,  so  that  we  are 
better  than  Adam  was  in  Eden.  God  came  down  and  gave  man  an 
earthly  kingdom,  and  Satan  came  and  said,  *'  I  will  mar  the  work 
ol  God  and  destroy  it."  But  God  came  down  again  and  said,  "  I 
will  lift  up  Adam  and  all  his  sons  higher,  even  unto  the  heavens, 
and  will  break  the  power  of  Satan  ;"  and  God  kept  His  promise, 
when  he  gave  His  Son  to  die  for  us.  A  friend  of  mine  said  to  me» 
"  Look  here.  Moody,  God  gave  to  Job  double  of  everything."  He 
would  not  admit  that  Job  had  lost  his  children.  He  had  taken  them 
to  heaven,  and  He  gave  him  ten  moae.  So  Job  had  ten  in  heaven 
and  ten  on  earth — a  goodly  family.  So  when  our  children  are 
taken  from  us  they  are  not  lost  to  us,  but  are  merely  gone  before. 
I  have  not  time  to  say  more,  but  in  conclusion  I  would  advise  all 
young  converts  to  keep  in  the  company  as  much  as  they  can  o\ 
more  experienced  Christians.  I  like  to  keep  in  the  society  of  those 
who  know  more  than  I  do,  and  I  never  lose  a  chance  of  getting 
all  I  can  out  of  them.  Study  the  Bible  carefully  and  prayerfully, 
ask  of  others  what  this  passage  means  and  what  that  passage 
means,  and  when  you  have  become  practically  acquainted  with 
the  great  truths  it  contains,  you  will  have  less  to  fear  from  the 
world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil. 


HOW  TO  READ  THE  BIBLE. 


BY   D.    L.    MOODY. 


In  order  to  understand  the  Bible  we  have  to  study  it  carefully. 
If  we  will  go  to  the  Word  of  God  and  be  willing  to  be  taught  by 
the  Holy  Ghost,  God  will  teach  us,  and  will  unfold  his  blessed 
truths  to  us. 

There  are  three  books  that  every  Christian  ought  to  have  if  he 
cannot'have  but  three.  The  first  is  a  Bible — one  with  good  plain 
print  that  you  can  easily  read,  not  so  good  that  you  are  afraid  to 
mark  it.  I  am  sick  of  these  little  fine  types.  It  is  a  good  thing 
to  get  a  good-sized  Bible,  because  you  will  grow  old  by-and-by. 
and  your  sight  may  grow  poor,  and  you  wont  want  to  give  up  the 
one  you  have  been  used  to  reading  after  it  has  come  tc 
seem  like  a  sort  of  life-long  companion.  The  next  book  to  eet 
is  *' Cruden's  Concordance."  You  cannot  get  on  very  well  in 
Bible  study  without  that.  There  is  another  book  printed  in  this 
country  by  the  American  Tract  Society  called  the  "  Bible  Text- 
Book."  It  was  brought  out  first  in  London.  These  three  books 
will  be  a  wonderful  help  to  you  in  studying  the  Word  of  God. 

For  a  number  of  years  I  have  made  a  rule  not  to  read  any  book 
that  does  not  help  me  to  understand  the  Bible.  I  am  a  greater 
slave  to  that  book  than  any  man  is  to  strong  drink,  and  I  am  sure 
it  does  me  a  great  deal  more  good.  I  think  I  have  got  the  key  to 
the  study  of  the  Bible.  Take  it  topically  !  Take  "  Love,"  lor 
instance,  and  spend  a  month  in  searching  what  the  Bible  says 
about  love,  from  Genesis  to  Revelation.  Thus  you  will  learn  to 
love  everybody,  whether  they  love  you  or  not.  In  the  same  way 
take  "  Grace,"  *'  Faith,"  *'  Assurance,"  "  Heaven,"  and  so  on. 
When  you  read  your  Bible,  be  sure  you  hunt  for  something.  Read 
the  same  chapter  over  and  over  again  till  you  understand  it.  I 
would  add — make  yourself  thoroughly  familiar  with  St.  Paul's 
Epistles.  They  are  the  key  to  all  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Get  a 
reference  Bible,  and  you  will  find  the  best  commentary  in  the  mar- 
gin. 

Take  up  one  word  in  a  book,  such  as  the  "  believes'''  in  St.  John. 
Every  chapter  but  two  speaks  of  believing.  Look  up  the  nineteen 
personal  interviews  with  Christ.  Take  the  conversions  of  the 
Bible:  the  seven  ''  hlesseds'"  and  ^'-overcomes''''  of  Revelation.  See 
what  I  John  3  says  about  "  assurance^'''  and  the  six  things  worth 
knowing.  Take  up  the  five  '■'■precious''''  things  of  Peter,  the  ^'verilys'* 
oi  John,  the  seven  *'  walks''  of  Ephesians,  the  four  *'  much  mores'* 
of  Rom.  4,  the  two  ^'  receiveds"  of  John  i,  the  seven  ^^  hearts"  in 
Prov.  23,  and  especially  an  eighth,  the  ^^  loo  kings"  the  ^*  lockings 
back,"  the  "  beholds"  of  the  Bible. 

Study  the  word  in  God's  presence,   with  the  help  of  the  asked- 


34  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS 

I        .    . 

for  Spirit  of  God.  If  you  have  sin  upon  your  conscience,  it  will 
hinder  your  understanding.  Remember  the  blood.  The  light 
which  shines  from  Calvary  is  the  light  that  unfolds  the  Scriptures. 
Additional  Suggestions. — i.  Have  for  constant  use  a  portable 
Reference  Bible.  2.  Carry  a  Bible  or  Testament  with  you.  3.  Don't 
be  afraid  of  marking  it,  or  making  notes  on  the  margin:  promises, 
exhortations,  warnings  to  Christians,  and  invitations  to  the  unsaved. 
4.  Do  not  be  satisfied  with  simply  reading  a  chapter,  but  study  the 
meaning  of  at  least  one  verse  every  day.  5.  Study  so  as  to  ascer- 
tain the  whole  truth  contained  in  a  single  incident  or  miracle :  when 
and  why  written,  how  it  applies  to  yourself,  and  how  to  use  it  for 
others.  6.  Study  to  know  for  what,  and  to  whom  each  book  of  the 
Bible  was  written.  Study  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  and  the  Epistles 
together,  also  Leviticus  and  Hebrews,  etc.  7.  Beheve  in  the 
Bible  as  God's  revelation  to  you,  and  act  accordingly.  8.  Learn  at 
least  one  verse  of  Scripture  each  day.  Verses  from  memory  will 
be  wonderfully  useful  in  your  daily  life  and  work.  See  Josh.  i.  8  ; 
Psa.  cxix.  II.  9.  Study  how  to  use  the  Bible  so  as  to  "  walk  with 
God"  and  lead  others  to  Christ.  10.  Set  apart  at  least  fifteen 
minutes  each  day  for  studying  it ;  this  little  Vv^ill  be  grand  in  re- 
sult, and  never  be  regretted.  11.  Read  the  Book  as  if  it  were 
written  for  yourself.  12.  Always  ask  God  to  help  you  to  under- 
stand it,  and.  then  expect  that  He  will.  13.  Have  Cruden's  Con- 
cordance and  a  Bible  Text-book  at  hand  ;  also  in  all  cases  refer  to 
parallel  passages  and  margin  notes,  and  take  time  to  think. 


HOW  TO  READ  THE  BIBLE. 


BY   REV.   J.    E.    SAMPSON. 

I  have  hope  of  the  worst  man,  as  long  as  he  will  read  his  Bible. 
I  feel  sure  he  will  turn  to  God  some  day.  I  am  full  of  fear  for 
the  best  man,  if  he  neglects  his  Bible.  He  is  almost  certain  to 
fall  before  the  enemy.  Amid  these  last  day  perils,  there  is  no 
safeguard  but  in  the  Word  of  God. 

Two  men  of  God  have  lately  given  good  advice  about  studying 
the  Bible.  Mr.  Moody  says,  "For  a  number  of  years,  I  have 
made  it  a  rule  not  to  read  any  book  that  does  not  helgp  me  to  un- 
derstand the  Bible.  I  am  a  greater  slave  to  that  book  than  any 
man  is  to  strong  drink,  and  I  am  sure  it  does  me  a  deal  more 
good.  Every  Christian  ought  to  have  a  good  Bible — not  so  good 
that  you  are  afraid  to  m.ark  it — and  a  Concordance.  I  think  I 
have  got  the  key  to  the  study  of  the  Bible.  Take  it  topically. 
Take  Love,  for  instance,  and  spend  a  month  in  searching  what 
the  Bible  says  about  love,  from  Genesis  to  Revelation.  Then 
you  will  love  everybody  whether  they  love  you  or  not.  In  the 
same  way  take  Grace,  Faith,  Assurance,  Heaven,  and  so  on. 
When  you  read  your  Bible,  be  sure  you  hunt  for  something. 
Spend   six   months   studyinr^-   Genesis :  it  is  the  seed-plant  of  the 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  35 

Bible.  Read  the  same  chapter  over  and  over  again,  till  you  un- 
derstand it.  I  would  add — make  j^ourself  thoroughly  familiar 
with  St.  Paul's  Epistles.  They  are  the  key  to  all  the  Holy  Scrip- 
ture. Do  not  think  you  would  do  better  with  a  Commentary. 
They  are  useful  to  consult  sometimes.  But  it  is  better  lor  you  to 
be  without  one,  than  that  you  should  depend  on  one.  Get  a 
Reference  Bible,  and  you  will  find  the  best  commentary  in  the 
margin. 

"  Take  up  one  word  in  a  book,  such  as  the  believes  in  St.  John. 
Every  chapter  but  two  speaks  of  believing.  Look  up  the  nine- 
teen personal  interviews  with  Christ.  Take  the  conversions  of 
the  Bible :  seven  hlesseds  and  overcnmes  of  Revelation.  See 
what  I  John  iii.  says  about  Assurance,  and  the  six  things  worth 
h Rowing .  Take  up  the  five  precious  things  of  Peter,  the  verily s 
of  John,  the  seven  walks  of  Ephesians,  the  five  much  mores  of 
Rom.  v.,  the  two  receiveds  ol  John  i.,  the  seven  hearts  in  Prov. 
xxiii.  and  especially  an  eighth,  the  lookings,  the  lookings  lack, 
the  Beholds,  of  the  Bible.  If  we  know  our  Bibles,  Satan. will  not 
have  much  power  over  us." 

Mr.  MuUer,  of  Bristol,  who  has  obtained  a  good  report  through 
faith  suggests  this  plan.  *'  Begin  the  Old  Testament  and  read  a 
portion.  The  next  time  you  read,  begin  the  New  in  the  same 
way.  .The  next  time,  a  portion  of  the  Old  beginning  where  you 
left  off  before  ;  and  next  time  again,  a  portion  of  the  New.  Thus 
you  will  soon  get  through  the  New  ;  then  begin  it  again  ;  and  so 
with  the  Old — the  result  will  be,  you  will  increasmgly  love  the 
Word  of  God.  I  have  tried  this  plan  for  forty-six  years,  and 
though  I  have  read  nearly  one  hundred  times  the  whole  oi  the 
Blessed  Word  of  God,  I  never  tire  of  it.  The  more  I  read  it  the 
more  precious  it  becomes  to  my  heart,  the  more  delight  still  I 
take  in  reading  it.  It  is  always  a  new  book  to  me,  when  I  begin 
it  again  from  the  beginning.  Bible  reading  is  the  great  means  of 
flourishing  the  soul.  If  you  neglect  this,  you  will  never  make 
much  progress.  Do  not  be  discouraged  if,  on  you  first  reading, 
you  do  not  understand.     By  little  and  little  you  will  learn  niore." 

It  is  re.markable  that  two  such  mighty  men  of  faith  should  have 
given  such  similar  and  striking  testimony  to  the  necessity  and 
happiness  of  pondering  in  the  Word  of  God. 

I  venture  to  suggest  further  the  plan  which  for  some  years  1 
have  found  very  profitable.  It  is  the  adoption  of  two  methods. 
First,  continue  reading  straight  on  through  the  Bible  from  begin- 
ning to  the  end.  About  two  pages  a  day,  in  an  ordinary  sized 
Bible,  will  bring  you  through  in  a  year.  But  read  more  than 
this,  if  you  have  time  ;  and  as  years  roll  by  you  will  be  tempted 
to  read  more  and  more.  In  this  way  you  will  get  a  general 
knowledge  of  the  entire  Scriptures.  You  will  notice  the  scope 
and  main  object  of  each  book.  You  will  see  that  there  is  a  Divine 
order  in  the  arrangement  of  the  books.  Try  as  you  go  on,  to  see 
the  chief  predominating  topic  of  each  book  ;  and  observe  how  the 
"  New  Testament  lies  hid  in  the  Old,  and  the  Old  Testament  lies 
<  -^en  in  the  New." 


36  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

Then,  at  the  same  time,  have  in  hand  some  one  book  for  special 
study  and  searching.  It  may  be  well  to  take  a  book  in  the  New 
Testament  for  this  more  particular  study,  while  you  are  reading 
the  Old  Testament ;  take,  for  example,  one  of  St.  Paul's  Epistles. 
Read  it  through  several  times,  till  you  see  the  outline  of  it,  and 
have  got  hold  of  the  line  of  thought  and  |the  steps  of  argument, 
or  the  main  divisions  of  the  book.  Do  not  begrudge  time  spent 
reading,  in  this  way,  over  and  over  again.  It  is  time  well  spent. 
Then,  when  you  have  grasped  the  general  drift  and  subject  of  the 
book,  begin  at  the  first  chapter,  and  take  it  verse  by  verse,  and 
word  by  word,  searching  out  parallel  texts  and  words  in  the  Old 
Testament  and  the  New,  and  observing  how  the  Bible  in  one  part 
explains  the  Bible  in  another. 

By  pursuing  these  methods  you  will  be  surprised  how  your  in- 
terest in  the  Scripture)  and  love  for  its  pages  will  increase. 
You  will  make  it  the  centre  of  all  your  reading,  and  nothing  will 
be  thought  worthy  of  your  study  which  does  not  in  some  way  or 
other  bear  upon  it. 

It  is  well  to  have  some  fixed  time  in  the  day  for  Bible  reading. 
What  is  left  to  be  done  at  any  time  is  usually  neve^  done  at  all. 
Keep  to  your  time  as  regularly  as  you  can,  but  if  on  any  occasion 
you  are  not  able  to  do  so,  do  not  condemn  yourself  as  if  you  had 
sinned. 

Always  pray  before  you  read.  Ask  God  to  be  your  teacher,  to 
enlighten  the  eyes  of  your  heart  by  his  Holy  Spirit.  If  Bezaleel 
needed  to  be  "  filled  with  the  Spirit  of  God,  in  wisdom,  and  in  un- 
derstanding, and  in  knowledge,"  that  he  might  know  how  to  con- 
struct the  material  tabernacle,  how  much  more  do  we  need  ttie 
^  fulness  of  the  same  Holj^  Spirit,  that  we  may  understand  the 
**  wondrous  things"  of  the  great  temple  of  revealed  truth. 

Be  sure  you  read  your  Bible  with  faith,  believing  every  word. 
Have  no  thoughts  or  opinions  of  your  own,  but  like  a  little  child 
receive  the  Word  of  God  in  simple  trust.  Let  no  feeling  of  your 
own  unworthiness  make  j^ou  stagger  at  the  rich  lulness  and  free- 
ness  of  God's  promises.  Often  ask  yourself  as  you  read,  Am  I  be- 
lieving this  ?  Remember  that  "  these  are  the  true  sayings  of 
God."  "  The  Scripture  cannot  be  broken."  Never  doubt  your 
heavenly  Father's  word,     i  John  v.  10. 

Let  your  object  in  knowing  the  Word  of  God  be,  that  you  may 
do  the  will  of  God.  If  you  have  sin  upon  your  conscience  it  will 
hinder  your  understanding.  Live  out  faithfully  in  your  daily  life 
all  you  learn.  Think  of  the  connection  between  the  laying  aside 
and  the  lay i?ig  apart  with  the  desiring  and  receiving  in  i  Pet.  ii.  i, 
2,  and  Jam.  i.  21.  No  one  who  allows  sin  in  his  life  can  know  the 
truth  in  his  heart. 

It  is  good  sometimes  to  sit  or  kneel  before  God,  and  meditate 
and.  ponder  over  some  portion  of  the  Word  of  Truth.  Speak 
with  God  about  it ;  praise  him  for  it ;  ask  him  to  fulfil  it  all  in 
you.^  Remember  that  in  prayer,  you  are  speaking  to  God  ;  that 
in  reading  the  Bible,  God  is  speaking  to  you.     Let  your  listening: 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  37 

heart  say,  Speak,  Lord,  for  thy  servant  heareth.  Pause,  and 
think  over  some  blessed  text,  and  allow  your  soul  to  drink  in  all 
its  rich  and  precious  meaning.  When  the  Psalmist  speaks  of  the 
downward  course  of  the  wicked,  the  contrast  he  draws  between 
them  and  the  righteous  man  is  very  striking — *'  But,"  he  says, 
*'  his  delight  is  in  the  law  of  the  Lord,  and  in  his  law  doth  he 
meditate  day  and  night." 

Study  the  Word  in  God's  presence.  Remember  the  blood. 
The  light  which  shines  from  Calvary  is  the  light  which  unfolds 
the  Scriptures.  A  stain  upon  your  conscience  will  be  like  a  speck 
upon  your  eye.  If  you  are  indeed  a  child  of  God,  it  will  not  only 
be  exquisite  pain  to  you  ;  it  will  almost  blind  you.  Bring  it  to 
the  blood  to  be  cleansed.  Then,  walking  in  the  truth,  you  will  be 
able  to  understand  the  truth,  and  the  truth  will  sanctify  you. 

I  earnestly  urge  you  to  make  Bible-reading  your  daily  habit. 
Let  it  be  a  fixed  principle  with  you  that  you  need  "  the  words  of 
his  mouth"  for  your  soul's  nourishment  and  health,  "  more  than 
your  necessary  food"  for  your  body.  I  have  seen  many  a  young 
Christian  fall  away  for  lack  of  this.  You  have  found  forgiveness, 
young  believer,  through  faith  in  the  atoning  blood  of  Christ ;  and 
you  are  happy,  supremely  happy.  But  forgiveness,  blessed  as  it 
is,' is  not  food.  And  if  you  have  no  food  you  will  have  no  strength. 
You  will  hunger.  And  the  hungr}^  will  eat  anything.  If  you  do 
not  go  on,  applying  yourself  to  the  careful  reading  of  your  Bible, 
increasing  in  the  knowledge  of  Christ,  your  famished  soul,  will 
readily  eat  of  the  world's  dainties,  and  Satan  will  not  be  slow  to 
spread  them  temptingly  before  you.  But  if  you  are  nourished  by 
the  hidden  manna  ;  if,  searching  the  Scriptures,  your  soul  is  filled 
with  the  knowledge  and  love  of  Christ  Jesus  your  Lord,  you  will 
"  never  hunger,"  you  will  have  no  heart  for  the  world's  allure- 
ments.    "  A  full  soul  loatheth  even  an  honeycomb." 

Christian,  if  you  would  stand  before  the  enemy,  if  you  would 
walk  humbly  and  happily  with  your  God,  if  you  would  be  useful 
in  the  Lord's  vineyard,  search  the  Scriptures  daily  and  diligently. 
^'  All  Scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of  God,  and  is  profitable, 
for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruction  in  righteous- 
ness ;  that  the  man  of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  furnished 
unto  all  good  works." 


THE  READING  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


BY    PASTOR    TH.    MONOD. 


The  reading  of  the  Bible  should  have  the  first  place  in  our  re- 
ligious employments,  for  it  is  upon  the  Word  of  God  that  our 
faith  is  founded.  We  recognize  this,  but  too  often  we  only  read 
it  as  a  duty.  We  say  to  ourselves  :  "  We  must  read  a  chapter 
■every  morning,  and  two  chapters  on  Sunday,  it  is  a  positive  duty  ; 


38  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

we  must  put  aside  the  interesting  book  which  we  have  begun,  and 
open  our  Bible,"  and  we  do  it. 

We  shall  not  make  much  progress  thus.  The  other  day  in  read- 
ing Psalm  i.  for  the  hundredth  time,  I  was  struck  for  the  first 
time  with  what  is  there  stated  concerning  the  Word  of  God.. 
David  does  not  say  in  Psalm  i.  "  Blessed  is  the  man  who  reads 
this  Word  day  and  night."  No,  but  he  says,  "  Blessed  is  the 
man  whose  delight  is  in  the  law  of  the  Lord,  and  in  His  law  doth 
he  meditate  day  and  night."  He  takes  pleasure  in  it,  it  interests 
him  more  than  the  daily  paper,  or  the  book  which  has  just  come 
out.  It  is  more  full  of  life  and  freshness  to  him  ;  it  is  more  real^ 
he  feels  the  beauties  of  it  more.  And  if  he  meditates  in  it,  it  is 
because  he  takes  pleasure  in  it.  At  our  meetings  in  Paris,  I  heard 
a  comparison  which  struck  me.  It  was  said  :  Suppose  a  young 
lady  had  read  a  book,  of  poetry  if  you  like,  or  some  other  book. 
She  had  been  interested  in  it,  touched  more  or  less  by  it,  and  she 
replaced  it  in  her  librarj^  But  not  long  after  the  author  of  this 
book  came  to  her  parent's  house  ;  he  made  her  acquaintance,  their 
relations  became  more  intimate,  and  finally  she  was  betrothed  to 
this  author.  Now  she  takes  up  his  book,  the  same  book.  Oh  !  in 
what  a  different  spirit  she  reads  it  again.  It  is  a  completely  new 
book.  There  are,  however,  the  same  sentences.  Yes !  but  in 
each  word  she  seeks  to  know  something  of  the  thought,  character^ 
and  heart  of  him  whom  she  loves,  and  who  lov^es  her.  No,  it  will 
be  no  more  the  same  book.  Well,  my  dear  friends,  what  we  want 
is  to  take  the  Bible  and  say  to  ourselves,  "  This  is  the  book  of 
Him  whom  I  love,  and  who  Icves  me ;  the  book  which  will  teach 
me  something  more  about  His  thoughts.  His  work,  what  He  has 
done,  and  what  he  has  promised  to  do.  This  is  the  book  which 
is  going  to  open  to  me  the  heart  of  my  Saviour,  God. 

Believe  me,  it  will  be  thus  another  book,  and  a  book  of  which  a 
lew  lines  will  do  more  good  than  whole  pages  and  chapters,  when 
we  only  read  them  as  a  matter  of  conscience,  as  a  duty,  and  in  fact 
to  be  able  to  say,  **  It  is  done,  I  have  read  my  chapter." 

Therefore  let  us  ask  God  that  He  may  grant  us  to  take  pleasure 
in  His  law.  There  is  no  other  way  to  delight  in  God's  law  than 
to  love  Himself.  And  it  is  impossible  to  remain  in  the  fa^th  and 
love  of  God,  if  one  is  not  employed  in  His  service. 

In  short  we  must  always  return  to  the  same  point.     We  must 

give  ourselves  to  God  just  as  we  are.     And  if  that  is  indeed  what 

we  wish,  by  the  goodness  of  God  we  may  be  sure  he  will  grant  it 

to  us ;  and  then  we  shall  dwell  in  His  love,  and  we  also  shall  be 

imong  those  who  delight  to  meditate  in  His  Word  day  and  night. 


THE  BOOKS  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


First  Genesis,  and  Exodus,  Leviticus,  and  Numbers, 
Deut'ronomy,  and  Joshua,  and  Judges  too,  and  Ruth  , 

Then  Samuel,  Kings,  and  Chronicles,  and  Ezra,  Nehemiah, 

And  Esther,  Job,  and  David's  Psalms  are  in  God's  Book  of  Truth» 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  39 

The  wise  king's  Proverbs  follow  next,  and  then  Ecclesiastes; 

The  song  of  Solomon  precedes  Isaiah's  glorious  strain  ; 
Then  Jeremiah,  prophet  sad,  weeps  forth  his  lamentations ; 

Ezekiel  and  IDaniel  foretell  Messiah's  reign. 

Hosea,  Joel,  Amos  next,  the  book  of  Obadiah, 

And  Jonah,  Micah,  Nahum  too,  then  Habakkuk  appears  ; 

And  Zephaniah,  Haggai,  the  prophet  Zechariah  ; 

And  Malachi  completes  the  roll  ere  Christ,  four  hundred  years. 

The  Gospels — Matthew,  Mark,  Luke,  John, — the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  ; 

Then  Romans,  and  Corinthians,  Galatians  next  we  note  ; 
Ephesians,  and  Philippians,  Colossians,  Thessalonians  : 

St.  Paul  these  nine  Epistles  to  the  early  churches  wrote. 

Next  Timothy  and  Titus  come,  Philemon  and  the  Hebrews  ; 

Then  James  ;  and  Peter's  letters  tell  of  "  precious"  things  above  : 
John's  three  Epistles  ;  Jude  ;  and  last,  John's  wondrous  Revelation, 

The  "  Volume  of  the  Book  "  complete,  God's  blessed  Book  of  Love  I 

T.  B.  B. 


HOW  TO  STUDY  THE  BIBLE. 


BY    DR.    STUART   ROBINSON,    OF    LOUISVILLE,    KY. 


This  question  refers  not  to  any  external  methods  of  scriptural 
study,  but  to  the  proper  conception  of  such  study  as  a  means  of 
that  Christian  self-culture  which  is  becoming  prominent  among 
the  aims  of  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations.  It  is  natural 
for  Christian  young  men,  who  have  already  some  spiritual  insight 
into  the  Scriptures,  to  inquire  how  shall  we  most  successfully  de- 
rive from  them  spiritual  culture  and  meetness  for  the  great  work 
of  bringing  souls  to  Christ.  Just  this  question  has  sprung  from 
and  represents  that  grand  new  conception  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  known  as  the  "  Bible  Reading."  In  answer 
ing  this  inquiry  I  offer  a  few  suggestions  or  a  series  of  what  you 
may  consider  clues  to  the  spiritual  significance  of  the  Bible.  And 
these  are  taken  from  the  Scriptures  themselves,  for  in  them  the 
Holy  Ghost  gives  the  instruction  we  need  on  this  subject :  (i)  To 
obtain  this  spiritual  improvement  we  must  treat  these  sacred 
pages  as  the  word  of  God.  The  Holy  Spirit  declares  *'  All  scrip- 
ture is  given  by  inspiration  of  God."  It  is  not  primarily  the 
words  of  Moses,  prophets,  evangelists  and  apostles.  For  hundreds 
of  times  these  writers  declare  it  is  not  their  word,  but  "  the  word 
of  the  Lord  came  unto  me," — *'  thus  saith  the  Lord."  Yes,  *'  all 
scripture  is  by  inspiration,"  Old  Testament  and  ISIew  alike.  Not 
only  the  evangelists  record  the  words  of  Jesus  Incarnate,  but  to 
the  apostles  Jesus  declared  "  the  Holy  Ghost  shall  teach  you  what 
you  ought  to  say."  "  He  shall  bring  all  things  to  your  remem- 
brance." "  He  shall  take  of  mine  and  shall  show  it  unto  you." 
Both  Jesus  and  his  apostles  declared  that  "  holy  men  of  old  spake 
as  they  were  moved  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  Nay,  an  apostle  was 
inspired  of  the  Holy  Ghost  to  say  that  it  was  "the  spirit  of  Christ'' 


4.0  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

in  these  prophets  that  did  prophecy.  So  that  in  every  page  it  is 
*'  Jesus  Christ,  the  same  yesterday,  to-day  and  forever,"  that  is 
speaking.  Not  only  that  He  once  spoke  these  things,  but  is  now 
speaking  them  to  every  soul  that  comes  asking  at  the  holy  oracle. 

True,  to  the  eye  of  sense  there  is  little  of  glory  in  this  homely 
and  solitary  book  with  its  divisions  of  a!juthors,  chapters  and  verses. 
Bat  faith  recognizes  the  fact  that  to  make  this  holy  record,  the 
chariot  of  heaven  made  many  a  visit  to  earth  ;  that  the  Almighty 
made  bare  his  arm  to  do  many  a  wonder,  compelling  men  to  heed 
these  utterances  ;  that  the  gleaming  finger  of  Omnipotence  beck- 
oned many  a  signal  to  arrest  men's  attention — yea,  that  Nature 
herself  often  arose  from  her  throne  in  reverent  awe  at  the  voice  of 
her  glorious  Lord,  and  dropped  her  sceptre  as  He  worked  his 
signs  and  v/onders  to  attest  His  word. 

The  soul  that  by  laith  apprehends  something  of  its  transcendent 
di  nity  and  majesty  in  origin  and  aim,  will  leel  the  need  of  care- 
ful preparation  of  heart.  Such  an  one  will  hear  a  voice  command- 
ing, '  put  oft  the  shoes  from  thy  feet,  for  the  place  whereon  thou 
standest  is  holy  ground."  When  the  study  of  the  scriptures  be- 
comes thus  a  reverent  act  oi  worship,  there  is  realized  that  for 
which  the  Psalmist  prayed  ''  open  thou  mine  eyes,  that  I  may  be- 
hold wondrous  things  out  oi  thy  law."  The  study  oi  scripture 
then  affords  something  more  than  a  mere  intellectual  exercise  ; 
the  spiritual  man  is  strengthened  and  refreshed. 

(2.)  But  while  thus  conceived  ol  in  their  divine  majesty,  the 
scriptures  are  to  be  interpreted  in  their  obvious  sense.  For  it  is 
the  teaching  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  scriptures  that  they  are  the 
utteiances  of  God  to  men.  While  the  Bible  is  a  divine  book,  it 
is  yet  the  most  human  of  books.  It  is  God  speaking,  but  speak- 
ing to  our  finite  minds.  While  its  topics  oi  thought  are  lofty  be- 
yc  jid  all  the  topics  of  human  learning  and  science,  the  reverent 
student  of  the  Word,  though  unlearned,  may  master  that  which 
"  makes  wise  unto  salvation."  It  deals  not  in  terms  01  scientific 
theology,  but  uses  language  current  among  the  people,  and  is 
found  to  change  its  fashion  of  thought  and  expression  with  the 
changes  oi  the  fashions  of  thought  and  expression  in  successive 
civilizations  for  4,000  years. 

(3.)  The  Bible  is  the  most  human  of  books  in  revealing  man  to 
himselt.  Its  grand  idea  is,  that  we  need  not  merely  a  revelation 
of  God  but  of  man's  nature  as  well.  Hence  this  revelation  con- 
nected itseli  with  the  history  oi  map  for  five  thousand  years,  and 
developed  itself  through  the  ever- varying  phases  of  humanity.  It 
records  not  simply  utterances  oi  God  speaking  from  Heaven  to 
man^  but  the  utterances  also  oi  the  human  soul  answering  back 
to  the  voice  of  God  ;  now  in  cries  of  mysterious  terror  ;  now  in 
shouts  of  defiant  impenitency;  now  in  penetential  wailing  for  sin  ; 
now  in  the  joyous  cries  of  child-like  faith  and  trust.  This  book 
is  no  divine  monologue,  but  an  amazing  dialogue  of  the  ages  be- 
tween earth  and  heaven.  It  records  both  how  God  spoke  and 
how  man  responded,  or  rather  how  God  is  ever  speaking  and  how 


NOTES   FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


41 


man  is  ever  answering.  And  thus  while  it  reveals  God  in  His  in- 
finite mysteries  that  we  may  understand  Him,  it  no  less  fully 
reveals  man  in  the  dreadful  mysteries  of  his  nature  that  he  may 
understand  himself.  Where,  in  classic  tragedy,  ancient  or  modern, 
is  there  any  painting  of  human  nature  comparable  to  that  in  the 
Scripture  ?  With  a  few  touches  Pharaoh  stands  before  us  far 
more  distinctly  than  the  Dido  of  Virgil,  the  Medea  of  Euripides, 
or  the  Lady  Macbeth  of  Shakespeare. 

As  you  study  the  human  side  of  this  book,  are  you  not  ready  to 
•say,  like  the  woman  at  Jacob's  Well,  "  Come,  see  a  man  who  told 
me  all  things  that  ever  I  did."  While,  therefore,  we  come  reverent- 
ly to  study  the  awful  mystery  of  God  the  Saviour,  we  come  hum- 
bly to  learn  also  the  deceitfulness  and  depravity  of  our  soul— our 
guilt,  helplessness,  hopelessness,  and  godlessness,  till  infinite  love 
interposes  for  us.  The  study  of  the  Scriptures  is  a  failure  ii  it 
does  not  produce  penitence  for  sin  and  faith  in  the  Sin-bearer. 
Such  study  the  Holy  Ghost  uses  for  awakening  the  soul  to  peni- 
tence and  inspiring  faith  that  is  *'  unto  salvation."  Indeed,  such 
study  can  be  inspired  only  by  the  Holy  Ghost.  Hence  meditation 
•should  be  accompanied  by  the  earnest  supplication,  "  open  thou 
mine  eyes  that  I  may  behold  wondrous  things  out  of  thy  law  ;" 
"  sanctify  me  through  thy  truth — thy  word  is  truth." 

(4.)  With  all  its  variety  of  era,  civilization  and  authorship,  the 
Bible  is  a  hook  of  one  idea.  The  apostle  who  did  not  shun  to  de- 
clare the  whole  counsel  of  God,  sums  up  that  whole  counsel  in 
two  words:  "Christ  crucified."  A  most  fruitful  source  of  error 
is  in  not  distinguishing  between  the  religion  of  nature  gathered 
from  reason  and  the  works  of  God,  and  the  religion  of  Christ  re- 
vealed in  this  book.  The  former,  combining  with  the  conscious 
instincts  of  man,  demonstrates  him  a  sinner  doomed  to  death. 
The  latter  shows  the  sinner  how  he  may  stand  guiltless  before 
God  by  means  of  an  infinite  substitute,  Christ  crucified.  To  ex- 
pound the  relation  of  the  substitute  to  God  on  the  one  hand,  and 
to  man,  the  sinner,  on  the  other,  is  the  one  idea  of  the  book.  I 
am  told  simply  to  take  that  substitution  made  by  Him  for  me, 
and  put  it  between  me  and  the  Judge,  and  He  cannot  see  my  sin, 
But  men  get  their  ideas  from  natural  religion,  and  teach  that  you 
must  be  good.  To  the  question  :  "  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?" 
all  false  gospels  say:  "Do  something,"  "go  and  perform  the 
ritual,"  "go  into  the  true  church,"  "  go  through  the  ordinances  of 
baptism  and  extreme  unction,"  "  go  and  be  baptized."  But  Christ 
answered,  "there  is  nothing  to  do.  'This  is  the  work  of  God, 
that  ye  believe  in  him  whom  he  hath  sent.'"  As  I  sometimes  tell 
my  Unitarian  friends,  your  religion  is  very  good  in  itself,  if  you 
would  only  not  call  it  Christianity  or  the  gospel  and  thereby  im- 
pose upon  the  people  a  mere  religion  of  nature  for  the  religion  of 
Christ  the  Saviour.  Your  religion  tells  me  that  if  I  behave  my- 
self God  will  be  good  to  me.  That  is  no  "  good  news,'"  for  I  knew 
it  before.  Nature  taught  me  that,  as  one  of  the  primary  instincts 
of  my  moral  nature.     But  the  trouble  is' I  have  not   behaved  my- 


42  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

self,  and  1  want  now  to  know  how  such  a  sinner  can  stand  ac- 
ceptably before  God.  This  is  what  the  gospel  comes  to  tell  me* 
You  steal  the  gospel  brand  and  trade-mark  and  affix  it  to  your 
natural  religion,  manufacturing  therefrom  a  spurious  imitation  of 
the  waters  of  life.  And  the  structure  of  this  revealed  system  of 
theology  is  not  such  as  ours,  who  construct  our  system  as  we  do 
a  house,  laying  beam  upon  beam.  God  constructs  His  system  of 
theology  as  he  does  the  living  oak  of  the  forest.  He  plants  the 
germinal  acorn  among  the  clods  of  a  wasted  Eden,  and  it  grows 
and  expands  parallel  with  the  germ  of  the  race  till  the  fulness  of 
time>  when  under  its  mighty  boughs  all  nations  may  have  shelter. 
Each  successive  revelation  is  an  expansion  of  the  revelation  be- 
fore it,  till  all  is  closed  up  with  that  great  seal,  written  all  over 
with  curses  against  him  who  shall  add  or  take  away  a  syllable 
irom  what  has  been  said  in  all  the  foregoing  books  of  the  revela- 
tion. That  it  means  to  cover  all  the  foregoing  books  is  evident 
irom  the  fact  that  each  of  the  foregoing  revelations  from  the 
Pentateuch  onward  calls  for  something  to  follow.  But  this  last 
book  closes  up  all  with  a  great  seal. 

It  you  examine  the  gospel  germ,  in  the  Eden  revelation  "  I  will 
put  enmity  between  thee  and  the  woman  and  between  thy  seed 
and  her  seed.  It  shall  bruise  thy  head  and  thou  shalt  bruise  his 
heel,"  you  will  find  in  it  the  elements  of  all  the  great  doctrines  oi 
salvation  subsequently  revealed.     Thus  : 

1.  The  promised  Redeemer  and  Restorer  of  the  race  is  to  be 
man,  since  He  is  to  be  the  seed  of  the  woman. 

2.  He  is  to  be  more  than  man  and  greater  than  Satan,  for  He 
is  to  be  the  conqueror  of  man's  conqueror  He  must  therefore  be 
Divine. 

3.  Man's  redemption  shall  involve  a  new  nature,  for  it  shall  be 
at  enmity  with  the  Satan  nature  to  which  man  has  now  become 
subject. 

4.  This  new  nature  is  to  be  a  regeneration  by  Divine  power,  for 
the  declaration  is  "  /  (Jehovah)  will  put  enmity,''  etc. 

5.  This  redemption  is  to  be  accomplished  by  vicarious  suffering 
— since  the  Redeemer  is  to  suffer  the  excruciating  torture  of  the 
bruising  of  his  heel  in  the  work  of  recovery. 

6.  This  redemption  is  to  involve  the  ultimate  triumph  of  the 
woman's  seed,  and  therefore  involves  a  triumph  over  death,  and 
a  resurrection  and  restoration  of  humanity  to  its  original  estate — 
the  union  of  a  spiritual  nature  with  a  physical  in  complete  blessed- 
ness as  before  the  fall. 

This  is  the  germinal  gospel,  and  the  purpose  of  all  the  succeed- 
ing revelations  recorded  in  the  book  is  the  fuller  expression  and 
development  of  this  Eden  gospel.  Hence  it  is  just  as  much  the 
gospel  according  to  Moses,  the  gospel  according  to  David  and 
Isaiah,  as  it  is  the  gospel  according  to  Matthew  or  Mark  or  Luke 
or  John  or  Peter  or  Paul.  It  is  all  alike  gospel.  And  no  one 
who  fails  to  see  this  can  ever  have  a  clear  comprehension  of  the 
Scripture. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


43 


(5.)  Bible  truth  must,  in  the  nature  of  the  case,  be  at  least  two- 
sided,  and  often  many  sided.  As  it  is  the  utterance  of  the  divine 
mind  to  a  human  mind,  every  proposition  must  have  its  divine 
and  its  human  side.  On  its  divine  side  it  may  involve  secret 
things  which  belong  to  the  Lord,  but  on  its  human  side  are  the 
things  which  concern  us.  Thus,  it  tells  you  in  one  place  that 
*'  Pharaoh  hardened  his  heart."  Again  that  "  the  Lord  hardened 
his  heart,"  and  in  another  place  that  "  Pharaoh's  heart  is  hard- 
ened." "  All  that  the  Father  giveth  me  shall  come  to  me."  Here 
is  redemption  viewed  on  its  divine  side.  "  And  him  that  cometh 
unto  me  1  will  in  no  wise  cast  out."  Here  in  the  same  proposition 
is  redemption  viewed  on  itsliuman  side.  So  again,  '*  Work  out 
3^our  own  salvation  with  lear  and  trembling."  Here  is  the  process 
of  salvation  viewed  on  its  human  side.  '*  For  it  is  God  which 
worketh  in  you  both  to  will  and  to  do  ol  his  good  pleasure."  Here 
is  the  process  of  saving  a  soul  viewed  on  its  divine  side.  So  again 
Paul  declares  to  the  centurion :  **  Be  of  good  cheer,  for  there 
shall  be  no  loss  of  any  man's  life  among  you,  but  of  the  ship  ;  ior 
there  stood  by  me  this  night  the  angel  of  God,  saying,  God  hath 
given  thee  all  that  sail  with  thee."  Here  is  the  ground  01  implicit 
confidence,  viewing  it  uom  the  divine  side.  Yet  a  little  after,  as 
the  ship  is  going  to  pieces,  and  the  sailors  pretending  to  fix  it,  are 
getting  away  in  their  boats,  the  same  Paul  says  to  the  same  cen- 
turion :  "  Except  these  abide  in  the  ship  ye  cannot  be  saved." 
Here  is  the  proposition  of  their  safety  viewed  from  the  human 
side.  *'  Why,"  the  centurion  might  have  said,  "  did  not  you  tell 
me  that  not  a  man  would  perish  ?  Now  you  say,  unless  I  keep  the 
sailors  on  board  they  are  going  to  be  lost ;  that  is  a  contradiction." 
Yes,  you  will  find  the  Bible  full  of  such  contradictions  ;  and  it  you 
want  to  show  off  your  superior  intellect,  you  will  have  a  life  work 
with  them. 

Again,  propositions  relating  to  practical  duty  are  two-sided  or 
many-sided.  "  He  that  is  not  with  me  is  against  me,"  is  the  rule 
by  which  to  judge  your  own  heart.  *'  He  that  is  not  against  us 
is  for  us,"  is  the  rule  by  which  to  judge  your  neighbor,  whose 
heart  you  cannot  see.  One  man  coming  to  Jesus,  in  answer  ta 
His  summons  "  Follow  Me,"  says  "  Lord,  suffer  me  first  to  go 
and  bury  my  father."  Jesus  says  :  *' Let  the  dead  bury  their 
dead."  Another,  a  wild  man,  living  in  the  tombs,  whom  Jesus 
heals,  is  so  full  of  gratitude,  that  he  wants  to  follow  Him.  But 
Jesus  answers  :  *'  Go  home  to  thy  friends  and  tell  how  great  things 
the  Lord  hath  done  for  you,"  In  the  first  case,  the  endearments 
of  the  family  had  got  too  fast  a  hold  of  the  man  :.  he  was  not 
ready  yet  to  forsake  all.  But  this  wild  man  had  never  known 
anything  of  such  endearments.  He  must  be  fitted  by  them  for 
Christ's'  service.  The  truth  seems  contradictory  but  it  is  the  na- 
ture of  the  truth. 

And  here  is  the  secret  of  much  religious  controversy  between 
Evangelical  Christians.  One  takes  his  stand  on  the  divine  side 
of  a  great  proposition  of  scripture,  and  will  not  go  around  and 


44 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


look  at  the  human  side ;  while  the  other,  taking  his  stand  on  the 
human  side,  will  not  go  around  to  the  divine  side.  Each  stands 
on  his  side  rattling  the  dry  bones  of  his  metaphysics  and  devising 
theories  of  interpretation,  instead  of  simply  comparing  scripture 
with  scripture,  and  looking  at  all  sides  of  the  great  truths  of  in- 
spiration. If  you  would  get  at  the  mind  of  the  Spirit,  you  must 
bear  in  mind  this  many-sidedness  of  the  truths  revealed.  The 
caviler  who  is  searching  for  contradictions  may  have  as  much 
room  for  displaying  his  subtlety  as  he  pleases.  The  Bible  has 
nothing  to  say  to  such — has  nothing  to  say  to  any  other  than 
earnest  souls. 

(6)  Though  we  have  the  scriptures  translated  out  oi  the  Hebrew 
and  Greek  into  the  language  of  the  people,  still,  being  ancient 
"books  given  in  diflerent  ages,  it  is  needful  also  that  they  be  trans- 
lated out  of  the  forms  of  thought  belonging  to  ancient  civilizations 
into  those  belonging  to  our  civilization.  Hence  the  importance 
ol  acquainting  ourselves  with  the  peculiarities  of  the  ancient 
peoples  to  whom  the  oracles  ot  God  were  originally  given.  The 
teacher  skilful  in  this  art  may  always  rely  upon  an  attentive  and 
interested  hearing. 

I  have  been  at  this  thirty  years.  Beginning  at  Genesis  1"  went 
through  book  after  book  and  chapter  after  chapter  to  Revelation. 
The  first  time  it  took  me  seven  years.  "  he  next  time  at  the  rate 
I  went,  it  would  have  taken  twelve  years;  the  third  time  fifteen 
years.  After  the  war,  I  went  home  and  took  up  the  part  before 
omitted,  and  it  will  take  me  twenty  years  to  get  through. 

(7.)  I  have  said  nothing  as  to  how  we  may  know  that  the 
scriptures  are  the  Word  of  God.  The  best  of  people  sometimes 
have  doubts.  David  Brainard  said,  the  morning  before  he  died, 
"that  his  mind  was  full  of  dark,  atheistic  doubts.'  Satan  is  not 
going  to  let  you  alone.     He  will  give  you  doubts. 

But  to  the  class  of  minds  contemplated  in  these  remarks  the 
scriptures  have  a  self-evidencing  power  more  convincing  than  all 
external  proof;  indeed,  to  them  elaborate  demonstration  seems 
impertinent.  In  our  variable  chmate  you  have  sometimes  seen 
how  spring,  as  if  impatient  obtrudes  into  the  domain  of  winter  its 
mists  and  warm  snowers:  and  winter,  that  has  seemingly  abdicated, 
suddenly  returns  on  the  wings  of  the  north  wind,  and  as  if  to 
punish  the  intrusion,  steals  upon  the  rain  arop  in  the  darkness  oi 
night  as  it  is  gathering  upon  the  twig,  and  the  moisture  upon  the 
dripping  walls,  and  the  mist  as  't  is  floating  over  hill  and  dale,  and 
with  one  blast  of  his  cold  bre-ith,  transmutes  all  into  solid  crystal. 
And  of  the  return  of  the  day  behold,  all  nature  sparkles  in  jeweled 
robes,  iis  if  under  the  fascinations  of  the  magic  lamp  of  Alladin, 
edch  withered  blade  is  decked  in  a  glittering  robe,  surpassing  that 
ol  "  Solomon  in  all  his  glory.'  The  trees  of  the  field  smile  in  a 
gorgeous  foliage  that  weighs  down  every  twig  as  with  a  load  of 
burnished  silver  :  the  walls  of  hedges  gleam  in  beauty  as  thejasper 
walls  ot  heaven  ;  the  hills,  the  craggy  cliffs,  the  lofty  mountains, 
far  as  the  eye  can  reach,  seem   floating   in  a  sea  of  light,  which 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


45 


dazzles  the  vision  with  its  effulgent  brightness.  Suppose,  now,  as 
you  gaze  entranced  upon  a  scene,  some  platitudinal  philosopher 
should  propose  to  demonstrate  to  you  by  the  principles  of  optics 
the  self-evidencing  truth  that  it  is  the  sun  in  heaven  yonder  that 
gives  this  scene  all  the  light  and  beauty  !  Yet  it  would  be  hardly 
less  absurd  to  obtrude  external  and  internal  evidences  of  the 
scriptures  upon  the  spiritually-minded  student  to  whose  eye, 

"A  glory  gilds  the  sacred  page," 

that  the  source  of  its  light  and  beauty  is  the  glorious  Sun  of 
Righteousness. 

There  is  little  to  be  gained  by  arguments  on  evidences  with  these 
half-earnest,  or  unearnest^  unspiritual  cavilers  and  sceptics,  who 
want  to  be  demonstrated  into  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven.  "  Ii  any 
man  will  {i.e.,  is  willing  to)  do  His  will,"  saith  Jesus,  *'  he  shall 
know  of  the  doctrine  whether  it  be  ot  God."  It  is  want  of  will 
rather  than  want  of  argument  that  leads  men  to  doubt  and  cavil' 
at  the  gospel.  And  upon  such  argument  and  proot  are  labor  lost,, 
and  more  than  lost. 

(8.)  The  best  model  in  guiding  and  directing  sinners  is  the 
example  of  Jesus.  Notice  his  instructions  to  them,  and  you  have: 
the  very  primer  of  the  whole  science. 

(a.)  He  spoke  with  great  simplicity,  so  as  to  be  understood  by 
all.  He  rejoices  that  the  things  of  His  kingdom  "  are  revealed 
unto  babes."  In  his  inaugural  sermon  He  declares  that  he  is 
"  anointed  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor."  To  John  the  Baptist; 
he  sends,  as  part  of  the  evidence  of  His  Messiahship,  the 
announcement,  "  To  the  poor  the  gospel  is  preached."  All  His- 
teaching  is  couched  in  simplest  language,  level  to  the  understand- 
ing of  all,  and  --the  common  people  heard  gladly." 

(6.)  He  spoke  with  authority.  He  used  no  learned  arguments. 
He  tells  them  "  I  know  this  is  true,  for  I  came  down  from  Father 
to  declare  it,"  and  "  no  man  knoweth  the  Father  but  the  Son."' 
So  Christians,  like  Him,  should  speak  with  authority,  not  reason- 
ing on  the  high  points  of  theology,  but  giving  simply  the  testimony 
of  God's  word. 

(c.)  He  spake  by  parables.  As  a  mother,  in  reply  to  her  child's 
questions,  labors  to  build  up  the  idea,  piece  by  piece,  by  a  sort  of 
parable,  so  Jesus^would  say  to  his  disciples :  "  You  want  to  know 
whether  my  gospel  is  to  go  on  by  the  power  of  God  ?  Did  you 
ever  see  a  man  sowing  wheat  in  a  field  ?  Some  fell  on  the  way- 
side, and  was  eaten  up  by  the  birds.  Some  fell  on  the  rock,  and 
came  up  very  quickly  ;  but  was  soon  burnt  up.  Some  fell  among 
thorns,  and  started  off  well ;  but  the  thorns  and  weeds  choked  it. 
And  some  fell  on  good  ground,  and  brought  forth  much  fruit. 
That  is  the  way  my  kingdom  is  to  grow."  And  that  is  a  perfect 
description  of  every  audience  which  from  that  day  to  this  has 
assembled  to  hear  the  gospel.  And  again  Jesus  said  :  **  Did  you 
ever  notice  a  woman  making  bread  ?  She  puts  the  yeast  in  the 
centre  of  the  pile,  but  she  dosen't  stir  it.  and   soon  it  leavens  the 


46  NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 

whole  lump.  That  is  the  way  my  kingdom  is  to  leaven  the  world." 
It  is  to  plant  in  a  community,  in  the  very  heart  of  it,  a  Y.M.C.A., 
like  yeast  in  the  meal,  and  let  them  work  away,  and  soon  you  will 
see  the  whole  community  leavened. 

(d.)  A  fourth  method  of  our  Lord's  teaching,  the  meaning  ot 
which  has  been  surprisingly  overlooked,  was  by  miracles.  Why 
are  so  many  miracles  recorded  ?  One  would  have  been  sufficient 
simply  to  attest  the  divine  power  of  Christ.  It  is  to  illustrate  in 
things  of  an  external  nature  that  transcendent  spiritual  work  which 
f^oes  on  in  the  soul.  Notice  that  at  one  time  a  blind  man  sees  as 
soon  as  Christ  speaks.  At  another  time  the  healed  man  says  :  "  I 
see  men  as  trees  walking,"  two  miracles  are  required,  all  objects 
are  like  shadows  moving  over  a  picture.  So  Christ  performs 
another  miracle,  He  rectifies  his  judgment  as  well  as  his  sight. 
So  in  your  spiritual  darkness  you  get  discouraged,  but  go  on 
toward  Christ  and  as  He  has  done  one  miracle  for  you  He  will  do 
the  other.  The  cure  of  the  deaf  mute  is  a  miracle  to  encourage 
the  most  ignorant.  This  man  sees  and  wonders  who  Jesus  is. 
Perhaps  he  thought  He  was  a  learned  rabbi.  Jesus  takes  him 
^side  from  the  multitude,  ^ne  evangelist  says  "  out  of  the  town," — 
just  as  when  a  mother  wants  a  little  child  to  learn  its  Sunday- 
school  lesson,  she  takes  it  into  a  room  away  from  the  play-ground. 
Then  He  touches  his  tongue  with  His  spittle  and  puts  His  fingers 
in  his  ears.  He  was  talking  to  him  by  signs.  After  He  wakes  up 
the  desire  and  the  hope  that  leads  to  faith,  the  poor  deaf  mute 
thinks  a  great  man  is  dealing  with  him.  Then,  with  His  fingers 
in  his  ears  He  looks  up  to  Heaven  and  sighs,  as  if  saying  "  see 
<leaf  mute  no  power  but  that  which  cometh  down  from  Heaven  can 
cure  you."  After  this  He  says:  "Ephphatha,"  be  opened.  Christ 
never  wrought  a  miracle  until  the  blessing  was  wanted.  Often 
he  awakened  the  desire  as  in  the  cripple  at  the  Pool  of  Bethesda. 
He  had  become  a  cynic,  his  whole  nature  was  soured.  *'  Wilt 
thou  be  made  whole  ?"  "  This  is  a  curious  question.  I  would  not 
have  lain  here  thirty-eight  years  if  I  did  not  want  to  be  made 
whole."  But  what  he  asked  it  for  was  this  :  The  man  thinks, 
*'  This  man  is  unlike  others,  for  He  even  comes  here  and  speaks 
to  me."  Jesus  awakes  hope  in  the  frozen  soul.  He  listens  as  he 
tells  him  how  they  get  ahead  of  him,  and  then  come  the  words : 
*'  Rise,  take  up  thy  bed  and  walk."  His  miracles  are  so  many 
•diagrams  01  His  work  of  grace  on  souls  in  darkness,  under  a 
sense  of  moral  impotency  or  of  utter  ignorance. 

The  first  thing,  the  first  step  is  to  come  to  him.  The  sum-  and 
substance  of  all  scripture  is  that  Jesus  Christ  wants  to  be  the 
Saviour  of  every  one  who  wants  Him  to  be  his  Saviour.  Look  at 
the  gospel  figures  ;  they  all  form  a  single  picture.  The  gospel  tells 
the  sinner  to  '^fly  to  the  stronghold."  '*  But,"  he  says,  "  I  have 
not  strength  to  fly."  Then  ^^  come  unto  me  and  I  will  give  you 
rest."  **  Him  that  cometh  to  me,"  viz.,  him  that  is  coming  or  is 
making  a  motion  to  come,  whether  he  feels  I  could  help  or  not. 
Him  that  is  coming  "  I  will  in  no  wise  cnst  out."     But  if  vou  can- 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


47 


not  come,  then  reach  out  your  hand  Hke  that  man  in  the  synagogue. 
li  you  say  *'  I  cannot  reach  it  out,"  then  "  look  to  Jesus  "  as  the 
children  of  Israel  looked  at  the  serpent  which  Moses  lifted  up  in 
the  wilderness.  Will  you  say  "still  there  is  a  spiritual  veil  over 
my  eye  ;  I  can  see  nothing  distinctly  ; "  then  says  the  gospel  "  Lie 
still  where  you  are,  and  I  will  throw  my  robe  ot  righteousness 
around  you."  This  is  the  gospel.  And  the  last  word  that  Jesus 
Christ  sent  back  after  being  on  the  throne  fifty  years — the  last 
word  before  the  curse  is  pronounced  against  any  that  shall  add  to 
or  take  from  the.  sacred  oracles — against  the  Koran's  and  Joe 
Smith's  revelations — was  "  Close  the  Record."  No  ;  there  is 
something  else  to  come.  Malachi  closes  up  the  Old  Testament 
calling  for  something  afterwards.  Jesus  goes  away  and  calls  for 
the  Spirit;  and  just  before  that  seal  is  put  on,  the  love  of  Jesus 
from  the  Throne  yonder  crowds  down  before  the  seal  ol  the  last 
gospel.  The  Spirit  saith  "  Come,"  in  those  whisperings  of  con- 
science that  are  heard  in  every  man.  The  Bride,  the  Church  I 
have  planted  upon  earth,  say  to  every  man  "  come,"  "  come." 
That  is  what  the  Church  i^  on  earth  for.  But  some  poor  sinner, 
where  there  is  no  church,  may  not  hear  the  invitation.  Then,  "  let 
him  that  heareth  say  come."  The  private  member  ol  the  church, 
'man,  woman  or  child,  can  say  "  Hear  my  voice."  To  whoever  has 
the  love  of  God  in  his  heart,  God  says,  "  I  will  make  you  a 
missionary."  There  is  the  authority  for  Young  Men's  Christian 
Associations.  If  any  one  asks  your  authority  for  preaching  the 
gospel  just  take  that  text,  '*  Let  him  that  heareth  say  come."  Is 
not  that  wide  enough  ?  No  !  Some  poor  sinner  may  say  :  "  No 
Christian  invited  me  to  *  come.'  "  Shall,  therefore,  that  poor  soul 
be  lost  ?  No.  Write,  "  let  him  that  is  athirst  come," — come  to 
the  waters  of  life.  Now  the  door  is  wide  enough.  No  !  not  3'-et. 
Some  simple  soul  says  :  "  I  am  thirsty  enough,  but  it  don't  say  me." 
Therefore,  says  the  love  of  Jesus,  in  the  last  of  the  gospel  that 
-ever  came  from  God  and  from  heaven  :  "  Strike  out  '  athirst,'  and 
put  it  in  the  widest  language  the  thought  of  man  can  conceive — 
■*  Whosoever  will,  let  him  take  of  the  water  of  life  freely,'  "  anci  that 
means  any  sinner  that  will  come. 

For  the  critical  study  of  God's  word,  and  we  have  a  conversational 
Bible  class  for  young  men.  The  Association  will  prosper  in  pro- 
portion as  its  members  are  brought  together  over  God's  Word.  In 
studying  this,  we  should,  in  the  first  instance,  shut  ourselves  up 
exclusively  to  it.  The  Bible  is  its  own  best  commentator.  Then 
use  other  helps  within  reach.  I  believe  with  Geo.  Muller,  of 
Ashley  Downs,  that  man  who  has  been  living  a  life  of  faith  for 
fifty  years,  and  whose  mind  is  saturated  with  Bible  truth,  that  it 
is  best  to  commence  with  Genesis  and  go  through  to  Revelation, 
because  otherwise  we  are  apt  to  go  over  repeatedly  the  parts  of 
Scripture  that  more  particularly  attract  us,  to  the  neglect  of  other 
parts  that  are  important  for  us  to  know.  Let  us  determine  to 
know  more  about  this  precious  truth,  looking  at  it  for  ourselves, 
that  our  souls  may  rest  in  the  Lord.     Always  have  a  Bible  with 


4^  .VOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

marginal  references.  Let  us  familiarize  ourselves  with  chapter 
and  verse,  that  we  may  the  more  easily  refer  to,  and  apply  the 
Word. 


READ  GOD'S  WORD  ORDERLY. 


E.    C.    CHENERY. 

From  an  old  book  by  Elnathan  Parr,  in  my  library,  given  me  by 
a  mother  in  Israel  now  eighty-eight  years  old,  printed  in  London 
in  1632,  or  twelve  years  after  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims,  and  six 
years  before  the  founding  of  Harvard  College,  and  formerly  the 
property  of  one  of  the  first  graduates  of  that  College,  I  transcribe 
the  following  in  both  the  spelling  and  punctuation,  doubting  not 
that  it  will  interest  your  readers,  while  its  instruction  may  be  safe 
for  us  to  follow  : — 

"  The  second  thing  required  in  reading  oi  the  Word,  is  Order 
and  Method  ;  which  is  a  great  furtherance  of  knowledge,  and  a 
singular  helpe  of  memory.  An  army  disranked  and  out  of  battell 
aray,  never  getteth  the  victory  ;  so  neither  doth  disorderly  and 
confusedly  reading  get  any  great  measure  of  grounded  knowledge. 

"  As  St.  Luke  wrote  the  Gospel  in  an  orderly  manner  from  poynt 
to  poynt :  so  we  are  to  reade  the  Word  in  an  orderly  manner^ 
going  forward  from  poynt  to  poynt.  Memorable  is  the  example 
of  our  Alphonsus  a  King  of  Spayne ;  who,  notwithstanding  the 
affairs  of  his  Kingdom,  read  over  the  Bible  fourteene  times  in 
order,  with  certayne  Commentaries  upon  the  same.  As  his  dili- 
gence is  here  very  commendable,  and  for  our  imitation  ;  so  also 
this  He  reade  in  order. 

*'  If  therefore  I  were  worthy  to  give  directions  this  way,  I  would 
thus  advise :  First,  What  booke  soever  we  take  to  read,  to  begin 
at  the  beginning,  and  so  continue  reading  till  wee  come  to  the  end 
of  it.  And  thus  shall  wee  carry  the  summe  and  the  drift  of  the 
History  and  argument  before  us  ;  of  which  in  a  great  part,  they 
which  read  now  a  chapter  in  one  booke,  now  a  leaf  in  another, 
must  needs  be  ignorant.  Such  simple  Readers  I  may  liken  to 
those  simple  women,  which  are  alwyes  reading,  but  are  never  able 
to  come  to  any  sound  knowledge  of  the  truth.  For  as  hee  that 
goeth  but  an  easie  pace  in  the  right  way,  speedeth  his  journey 
faster  than  hee  that  maketh  more  haste  in  a  wrong  way.  Even  so 
a  little  read  in  a  good  order,  advantageth  the  knowledge  more  than 
greater  paines,  if  it  be  confused. 

"  Second,  I  would  advise,  that  in  our  reading  we  begin  first  with 
easiest  and  plainest  Books,  as  the  History  of  Christ,  set  downe  by 
the  evangelists,  and  the  Booke  of  Genesis  ;  then  to  reade  the  Epis- 
tles, first  the  shortest,  as  the  Epistles  to  the  Philippians,  Colossi- 
ans,  the  first  and  second  to  the  Thesalonians :  then  the  Epistles  to 
the  Galatians,  and  to  the  Romans,  which  last  Epistle  is  called  of 
some,  the  Key  of  the  Bible.     And  when  we  have  tryed  ourselves 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


49 


in  these,  then  to  begin  the  Bible,  and  to  read  it  through  ;  For  even 
as  in  Trades  there  are  some  things  more  easie,  to  the  w..xch  the 
apprentice  is  apphed  ;  and  afterwards  as  he  growcth  in  capacity, 
hee  is  taught  the  harder  and  more  secret  things  of  his  mystery  ;  so 
in  the  Scriptures,  there  are  some  things  easie  and  famihar  for  lear- 
ners, and  beginners,  as  milke  for  babes  ;  and  there  are  other  things, 
hard  and  obscure,  which  is  not  safe  to  meddle  withall,  till  we  have 
our  sences  well  exercised  in  the  Word. 

"  Theodosius  the  second  Emperor  of  that  name,  is  reported  to 
have  written  out  the  Bookes  of  the  New  Testament  with  his  own 
hand,  accounting  it  a  speciall  Jewell ;  and  out  of  it  hee  read  every 
day,  praying  with  his  Wife  and  Sisters,  and  singing  of  Psalms. 
And  it  was  a  famous  Eunuches  practice,  as  we  may  gather  out  of 
the  eyghth  Chapter  of  the  Acts.  I  reade  of  another  Emperor  of 
Rome,  who  was  wont  to  account  that  day  lost,  in  the  which  he 
had  not  bestowed  a  benefit  upon  some  of  his  subjects:  So  we  may 
well  reckon  that  day  among  our  losses,  in  the  which  we  reade  not, 

or  meditate  not  of  something  in  the  Word Hath  the 

body  neede  of  nourishment,  and  hath  not  the  soule  much  more  ? 
Now  the  bread  of  the  soule  is  the  Word  of  God.  O  Lord,  give 
us  evermore  of  this  bread.     Amen. 

"  The  third  thing  that  is  to  be  done  is  Application  ;  to  make  use 
of  that  we  attayne  unto  in  our  reading,  in  the  reforming  of  our 
lives.  Many  esteem  highly  of  the  tree  of  knowledge,  with  Eve  ;  but 
they  regard  not  the  tree  of  life ;  when  as  the  very  life  of  our  know- 
ledge consist eth  in  the  practice  of  that  which  we  know. 

*'  Asit  is  sayd  of  Hearers,  so  itissayd  of  Readers.  Not  the  readers 

of  the  Word,  but  the  doers  shall  be  justified Some  read 

onely  to  this  end,  that  they  may  know  more  than  they  did  ;  and 
this  is  vanity :  Some,  that  they  may  be  knowne  to  know  more ;  and 
this  is  pride:  Some  to  make  a  gaine  of  their  knowledge ;  and  this 
is  filthy  lucre:  Some,  to  edifie  others  ;  and  this  is  charity:  Some 
to  edifie  themselves  ;  and  this  is  Christian  prudence  ;  such  like 
words  hath  one  of  the  Ancients.  Another  sayth  thus  :  "  Then  is 
our  reading  to  be  commended,  when  we  turne  the  words  into 
works.  The  Scriptures  are  God's  Epistle,  written  to  men,  to  the 
end  they  should  live  well.  .  .•  .  Now  to  God  onely  wise,  be 
honour  and  prayse  for  evermore.     Amen  !     Amen  ! '" 


METHODS  OF  BIBLE  STUDY. 


BY    THE    REV.    HENRY    S.    DE    FOREST. 

The  International  Lesson  Series,  of  necessity,  has  to  hop,  skip 
and  jump  through  the  Bible.  The  three  hundred  and  fifty  lessons 
allowed  by  the  seven  years  only  suffice  to  look  at  a  small  part  of 
what  God  has  written.  And  while  no  undue  thought  is  given  to 
the  selected  paragraphs,  there  is  great  risk  that  the  Bible  as  a 
whole  may  be  neglected.     It  is  well  to  keep  in  mind  methods  of 


50  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

Bible  study  other  and  in  addition  to  the  preparation  of  the  Sun- 
day-school lesson. 

For  one  thing,  the  Bible  should  be  read  in  course,  over  and  over 
again,  till  we  are  well  familiarized  with  the  whole.  Revelation 
was  progressive.  Like  the  rising  of  the  sun,  the  light  is  dimmer 
at  first  than  at  high  noon.  The  promise  that  the  seed  of  the  wo- 
man shall  bruise  the  serpent's  head  is  the  dawn.  We  find  midday 
when  in  the  fulness  of  time  Christ  came  and  brought  life  and  im- 
mortality to  light.  The  Old  Testament  leads  the  way  to  the  New, 
as  a  porch  stands  before  a  more  stately  temple.  The  Gospel  ac- 
cording to  John  gives  us  views  of  Christ  which  we  do  not  find  in 
the  synoptical  Gospels.  The  Acts  give  us  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  the  church,  whose  foundation  only  is  recorded  by  the  evan- 
gelists ;  and  the  great  doctrines,  as  that  of  justification  by  faith, 
are  presented  in  their  fulness  only  in  the  Epistles.  Then  since 
revelation  has  been  a  progressive  w^ork,  to  understand  it  well  we 
need  to  begin  at  the  beginning  and  advance  to  the  end. 

Another  reason  for  this  systematic  study  of  the  Bible  is,  that 
without  it  we  shall  lose  much  of  the  rarest  worth.  For  God's 
ivord  is  a  deep  mine  ;  its  treasures  are  found  where  we  do  not  ex- 
pect ;  nuggets  of  the  purest  gold  are  hidden  in  the  deepest  depths  ; 
gems  and  sparkling  jewels  are  found  where  we  thought  was  noth- 
ing but  sand  and  gravel, — mere  debris.  Now  to  get  it  all,  we  must 
explore  the  whole,  and  nothing  that  God  has  made  in  nature  or 
written  in  his  word  is  beneath  our  attention.  Then  early  in  life, 
while  the  memory  is  yet  tenacious,  let  God's  word  be  read  in  its 
entirety,  and  till  it  has  become  familiar. 

After  mastering  the  Bible  as  a  whole,  we  may  well  turn  to  those 
parts  which  are  best  suited  to  our  present  needs,  and  read  them 
again  and  again  with  ever-increasing  delight.  The  Bible  speaks 
to  all  classes  of  men,  and  is  adapted  to  the  varying  moods  of  each. 
It  has  been  called  a  stream  in  which  the  lamb  may  wade,  the 
elephant  find  depths  to  swim.  To  the  wayfaring  man  it  is  a  plain 
directory,  while  the  philosopher  may  test  his  strength  in  its  inscrut- 
able mysteries.  So  it  is  suited  to  our  different  moods  and  chang- 
ing emotions.  David  speaks  to  the  soul  cast  down  and  disquieted 
within  ;  he  also  gives  the  imprecatory  Psalms  for  the  man  fight- 
ing the  enemies  of  God  and  of  his  country.  Does  the  reader  seek 
poetry  ?  Job  gives  him  Oriental  imagery,  and  Isaiah  Hebrew 
majesty,  which  the  uninspired  page  has  never  equalled.  Is  he 
sententious  and  epigrammatic  ?  Let  him  read  the  Proverbs  of 
Solomon  and  he  will  find  apothegms  to  his  mind.  Is  his  heart 
breaking  over  a  new-made  grave  ?  Let  him  read  in  John  of  one 
who  came  from  heaven,  yet,  standing  with  the  sisters  at  Bethany, 
"  wept."  Is  he  going  through  the  dark  valley  and  shadow  of 
death  ?  He  may  find  the  Twenty-third  Psalm  a  rod  and  staff. 

But  the  death-bed  suggests  another  method  of  Bible  study,  now- 
a-days  too  much  neglected.  ScripUire  should  be  committed  to 
memory.  This  is  an  age  of  reading  ;  it  is  not  an  age  of  retaining. 
The  memory  once  did  stereotyping,  now  it  is  all  done  in  the  print- 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  51 

ing-office,  and  very  little  that  we  read  is  really  our  own.  The 
Bible  should  be  with  us  in  the  dark  and  when  the  eyes  are  closed  ; 
when  we  cannot  read,  when  we  cannot  hear,  when  fron;  sickness 
or  the  approach  of  death  we  are  too  weak  to  think,  then,  unbidden 
and  unsought,  proniises  and  consolations  from  God's  word  should 
come  floating  into  the  darkened  chambers  of  thought,  and,  like 
angels  of  light,  they  should  minister  to  the  sick  and  to  the 
dying.  They  will  not  come  then,  unless  we  entertain  them  now. 
We  must  invite  them  till  they  are  wonted  with  us  and  at  home  ; 
then  they  will  not  fail  to  minister  to  us  when  our  hand  forgets  its 
cunning  and  the  tongue  cleaves  to  the  roof  of  our  mouth. 

This  memorizing  some  portion  of  God's  word  should  be  a 
daily  duty.  Three  hundred  and  sixty-five  promises  will  in  a  year 
make  a  bundle  of  wealth.  Pursue  this  course  from  early  life,  when 
the  memory  is  especially  active,  till  old  age,  and  a  man  may  not 
only  come  down  to  his  grave  like  a  shock  of  corn  fully  ripe,  but 
he  may  carry  with  him  a  harvest  of  wealth,  sheaf  piled  on  sheaf 
in  more  than  autumnal  luxuriance.  If  the  selection  be  made  a 
pillow  verse,  and  taken  to  bed  with  us,  our  couch  wi^l  be  softer, 
and  our  rising  will  be  with  a  brighter  light. 


BIBLE  STUDY. 


A  WORD   TO   YOUNG   WORKERS..     BY  C.   P. 


In  these  days  of  busy  working,  when  God  is  calling  so  many 
labourers  into  His  great  harvest-field,  we  are  hearing  inquiries  on 
all  sides  for  improved  plans  and  new  methods  of  work,  for  the  best 
schemes  and  the  most  successful  organizations.  We  would  not  for 
a  moment  discourage  this  eager  energy,  or  undervalue  the  import- 
ance of  framework  and  machinery.  But  we  confess  to  being  a  little 
jealous  on  behalf  of  our  younger  workers,  lest,  while  sweeping  on 
in  the  express  train  of  modern  activity,  they  should  forget  that  the 
character  of  the  worker  weighs  more  heavily  in  the  scale  of  real 
success  than  the  whole  aggregate  of  improved  plans  or  novel  ex- 
pedients ;  and  that  what  we  are,  will  tell  more  upon  the  men  and 
women  around  us,  than  any  amount  of  work  we  may  do.  It  is 
possible  to  astonish  people  by  our  marvellous  energy  of  action,  or 
to  call  forth  their  applause  while  we  spent  with  the  "  tongues  of 
men  and  of  angels,"  and  yet  leave  no  impression  of  abiding  blessing, 
no  mark  engraven  for  Eternity. 

It  is  with  this  conviction  that  we  venture  to  put  forth  a  few 
suggestive  thoughts  upon  the  principles  which  must  be  embodied 
in  aJl  true  work  for  the  Master,  and  the  deep  heart-discipline  which 
must  underlie  all  that  will  be  owned  as  success  in  the  great  day 
of  revelation. 

Shall  we  place  at  the  very  outset  of  our  education  for  service  a« 
habitual  and  child-like  study  of  the  Word  of  God? — child-like  in  this 
sense, — that  we  come  to  it  with  no  theories,  no   party   views,  no 


52  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

"  school  of  thought,"  to  throw  a  coloring  on  its  pages  ;  but,  with 
God's  pure  white  light  shining  on  the  Book,  we  look  up  and  say, 
**  Speak  Lord,for  thy  servant  heareth."  Such  a  student  of  Scripture 
will  reject  no  assistance,  and  despise  no  contributions  of  help.  He 
is  like  a  man  looking  for  precious  stones,  and  every  tool  will  come 
to  hand  in  turn — whether  spade  or  shovel,  pick-axe  or  troAvel,  it 
matters  not,  if  only  he  may  find  his  jewels.  So  wtih  our  Bible 
Study  ;  let  science  and  history,  travel  and  research,  all  be  pressed 
into  the  service,  while  we  dig  deep  for  the  treasured  wealth  which 
we  shall  surely  find.  We  often  hear  it  said  that  the  "  Christian  is 
a  man  of  one  Book."  This  is  quite  true  ;  but  he  honors  that  one, 
not  by  ignoring  all  beside,  but  by  laying  all  others  under  contribu- 
tion, for  the  discovery  and  elucidation  of  its  wondrous  teaching. 
Shall  we  love  its  blessed  promises  the  less  because  we  have  searched 
into  its  chronology  or  studied  its  geography  ?  Shall  we  tremble  to 
look  into  the  works  of  God  around  us,  lest  their  lessons  should  be 
atfvariance  with  the  written  revelations  of  thesame  Divine  Author. ^^ 
Surely  the  great  Master  Teacher  made  no  mistake  when  he  threw 
open  the  pages  of  Creation's  book  before  His  servant  Job,  and  led 
him,  as  it  were,  through  its  picture  galleries  till  he  could  exclaim : 
•*  I  know  that  Thou  canst  do  everything  ;  I  have  heard  of  Thee  by 
the  hearing  of  the  ear  ;  but  now  mine  eye  seeth  Thee,  wherefore  I 
abhor  myself  and  repent  in  dust  and  ashes." 

Again  ;  we  read  that  "  God  gave  Solomon  wisdom  and  under- 
standing exceeding  much  and  largeness  of  heart  even  as  the  sand 
that  is  on  the  sea-shore."  If  this  largeness  of  heart  came  so 
directly  from  God  Himself,  it  was  undoubtedly  for  His  own  glory  ; 
and  can  we  suppose  that  ignorance  and  narrow-mindedness  should 
honor  him  now  ?  "  With  Him  is  no  variableness  neither  shadow  of 
turning."  While  we  claim  for  the  Word  of  God  its  place  of  unrival- 
led pre-eminence,  we  also  claim  for  it  all  the  supplemental  results 
of  investigation,  and  all  the  tributary  streams  of  knowledge, 
bringing,  if  we  may  use  the  expression,  "  their  glory  and  their 
honor  into  it." 

But  to  pass  on  to  our  more  immediate  subject — the  study  of 
the  book  itself.  The  question  is  so  continually  coming  before  us, 
"  How  shall  I  most  profitably  read  the  Scriptures  ?"  that  per- 
haps the  simplest  hints,  and  the  most  ordinary  experience,  may 
be  permitted  to  help  some  one  among  the  many  inquirers.  Let 
us  not  fall  into  the  mistake  of  supposing  that  one  mode  is  to  be 
adopted  to  the  exclusion  of  all  others,  or  one  scheme,  strongly 
recommended  by  some  Christian  friend,  to  be  necessarily  more 
useful  than  any  other.  Let  us  realize  our  object,  rather  than  be 
engrossed  with  our  plans.  There  is  treasure  to  be  found,  and  we 
Want  to  dig  it  out  ;  there  is  honey  in  the  rock,  and  we  want 
to  taste  it  ;  there  is  bread  to  be  eaten,  and  we  want  to  feed 
upon  it.  Let  us  see  to  it,  in  the  first  place,  that  we  are  it*  the 
right  attitude,  and  in  the  place  of  blessing;  where  is  it  ?  Down, 
low  down,  on  our  knees,  at  the  feet  of  the  Teacher,  with  the 
fixed    eye,   tlie    listenina-   ear,  the  child's  heart  ;  and,    as    surely 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  53 

as  God  is  true,  we  shall  come  away  exclaiming,  "  I  rejoice  in 
Thy  Word  as  one  that  findeth  great  spoil  !"  But,  again,  we 
seem  to  hear  the  question,  "  What  plan  of  study  are  we  to  adopt  ?" 
Of  course,  there  must  be,  in  the  first  place,  an  accurate  know- 
ledge of  the  letter  of  Scripture,  an  intelligent  reading  of  its  his- 
tories and  acquaintance  with  its  biography.  We  cannot  expect 
to  understand  typical  teaching  while  we  know  very  little  of  the 
circumstantials  of  the  types  themselves,  or  to  derive  spiritual  les- 
sons from  facts  of  which  we  are  very  imperfectly  informed.  Spirit- 
ual apprehension  is  not  based  on  mental  ignorance,  nor  have  we 
any  warrant  to  plead  that  our  eyes  may  be  opened  "  to  behold 
wondrous  things  out  of  God's  law,"  while  we  are  ourselves  closing 
them  in  a  sleepy  indolence.  I  believe  we  are  verily  guilty  in  this 
matter.  Many  are  wearily  saying,  "  We  ask  and  have  not,"  as 
though  "  God  were  slack  concerning  His  promise,"  when  there 
has  been  no  putting  "  the  wood  in  order,"  no  furnishing  the  cham- 
bers," no  "rolling  away  the  stone."  Shall  the  "strength  of 
Israel"  be  expected  to  contravene  His  own  laws,  or  to  reverse  the 
Word  which  He  hath  spoken,  "  The  soul  ol  the  sluggard  desireth 
and  hath  nothing  ?" 

We  are  deeply  convinced  that  much  of  the  doubtful  teaching 
and  unstable  profession  of  the  present  day  is  consequent  upon  a 
superficial,  and  in  many  cases,  a  second-hand  acquaintance  with 
the  Book  of  God  ;  and  this,  agam,  is  often  to  be  traced  to  an  un- 
suspected indolence  which  has  crept  in  upon  the  heart  and  mind, 
at  the  very  time  when  outward  activities  were  largely  on  the  in- 
crease. It  is  easier  to  receive  a  doctrine  than  to  examine  it,  to 
accept  an  induction  than  to  inquire  into  the  steps  by  which  it 
has  been  reached ;  and  the  carelessness  and  inaccuracy  resulting 
from  undue  haste  or  idle  credulity^  is  banefuUy  telling  on  much 
of  our  Christian  life  and  work. 

.  But  while  we  raise  a  note  of  warning,  our  purpose  is  rather  to 
encourage  earnest  and  willing  hearts,  who  are  desiring  the  "  sin- 
cere milk  of  the  Word  that  they  may  grow  thereby."  We  will 
suppose,  then,  that  you  are  fairly  acquainted  with  the  letter  of 
Scripture,  but  are  anxious  to  go  deeper,  to  learn  how  to  profit  by 
it  yourseli,  and  how  to  use  it  for  the  profit  of  others.  The  fact 
that  we  pay  to  this  Book  a  homage  which  can  be  yielded  to  no 
other,  and  deal  with  its  inspired  pages  as  the  recorded  messages 
from  God  to  man,  should  surely  increase  rather  than  diminish  the 
spirit  of  reverent  but  searching  inquiry  with  which  we  bring  every 
faculty  to  bear  upon  the  study  of  it. 

Let  us  endeavour  to  ascertain  the  scope  and  bearing  of  each 
several  book,  before  we  take  up  its  separate  chapters — gathering 
up  all  attainable  information  respecting  the  writer  or  writers  of  it. 
If  a  prophetical  book,  for  instance,  let  us  remind  ourselves  of  the 
time  and  circumstances  under  which  the  Prophet  wrote ;  the 
character  of  the  reigning  monarch  ;  the  special  sins  or  afflictions 
of  the  people  primarily  addressed  ;  and  all  such  preliminary  in- 
formation as  may  clear  our  way  to  an  intelligent  understanding 


54  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

of  the  teaching  before  us.  This  may  be  done  with  more  or  less 
assistance  from  other  sources,  but  even  where  extraneous  help  is 
at  hand,  we  shall  find  that  such  subsidiary  knowledge  will  be 
more  fixed  in  the  memory  when  gathered  from  the  Bible  itself. 
How  much  light  is  thrown  on  the  Epistles  of  St.  Paul  by  tracing 
his  different  journeys  Irom  place  to  place,  gathering  up  every 
mention  of  the  Church  to  which  he  wrote,  and  then  finding  out, 
as  we  generally  may,  the  special  condition  of  things  to  which  he 
addresses  himself  in  the  letter  we  are  studying.  There  is  often  a 
key-note,  which  can  be  traced  through  endless  variations,  a 
stratum  ot  thought  or  vein  of  teaching  which  crops  up  again  and 
again,  and  helps  us  to  comprehend  the  whole.  A  careful  examina- 
tion into  the  general  bearing  of  a  book,  or  the  structure  of  a  pass- 
age, would  save  us  from  many  of  those  ignorant  deductions  which 
might  provoke  a  smile  w^ere  it  not  that  the  place  whereon  we 
tread  is  holy  ground.  We  might  say  much  more  on  this  pointy 
but  our  readers  will  follow  out  the  suggestion  for  themselves,  and 
there  is  no  lack  of  valuable  help  from  able  pens — only  let  these 
come  after  rather  than  before  their  own  diligent  investigations. 
There  is  no  doubt  that  some  of  our  best  Bible-teachers  are  those 
who  in  their  earliest  studies,  have  been  thrown  mainly  on  the 
blessed  Book  itself,  and  planted  their  foot  deep  in  its  virgin  soil 
before  they  brought  in  the  added  stores  that  may  be  gathered  in 
many  fields. 

Having,  as  it  were,  become  acquainted  with  the  growth  of  the 
tree  and  its  general  character,  take  Luke's  advice,  and  *'  shake 
every  bough,"  examine  every  leat,  that  nothing  may  pass  unheed- 
ed. And  when  the  book  (be  it  history,  prophecy,  poem,  gospel^ 
or  epistle)  has  been  grasped  as  a  whole,  return  to  it  in  its  several 
chapters  and  paragraphs,  verse  and  clauses,  gathering  up  their 
more  specific  lessons  as  you  pass  along. 

Shall  we  take  another  line  of  thought  ?  There  are  certain  chap- 
ters or  passages  in  the  Bible  which  seem,  so  to  speak,  like  great 
trunk-roads,  from  which  a  variety  oi  paths  branch  out  in  every 
direction,  and  these  should  be  carefully  studied  and  kept  in  re- 
membrance. Take,  for  example,  Genesis  iii.,  with  its  brief  and 
comprehensive  outlines  of  ruin  and  redemption^  of  death  and  re- 
surrection. We  have  temptation,  disobedience,  shame,  fear,  follow- 
ing one  another  in  sorrowful  sequence ;  then  the  cursed  ground^ 
with  its  thorns  and  thistles,  the  toil-worn  man  and  the  sentence 
of  the  tomb  ;  the  subject  woman,  with  her  suffering  mother-life, — 
and  we  have  never  once  lost  sight  of  these  things  from  that  day 
to  the  present.  Agriculture,  history,  family-life,  have  all  borne 
witness  to  the  inspired  record,  and  successive  centuries  have  "  '^et 
to  their  seal  that  God  is  true."  But  along  with  the  dark  shadows, 
we  have  the  bright  gleam  of  love  and  promise,  starting  from  the 
same  point,  and  carrying  its  wondrous  line  of  light  through  all 
the  darkness  of  intervening  ages,  till  a  golden  star  stands  over  the 
manger  of  Bethlehem. 

Or,  again,  take  Genesis  x.,  beginning  trom  chapter  ix.  25,  and 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  55 

read  it  with  a  map  of  ancient  geography  before  you,  bearing  in 
mind  Deuteronomy  xxxii.  8,  as  an  inspired  comment  upon  all  its 
geographical  allotments.  We  might  refer  to  the  blessings  of  the 
tribes  in  Genesis  xlix.  and  Deuteronomy  xxxiii.,  with  their  mys- 
terious and  far-reaching  significations;  but  we  pass  to  another 
suggestion.  Let  us  begin  again  at  Genesis  iii.,  and  take  up  the 
line  of  the  "  holy  seed,"  now  no  longer  indigenous  in  earth's  soil, 
but  become,  as  it  were,  a  stranger  in  a  "  strange  land."  Observe 
from  the  time  of  Abel  onward  that  God  leaves  not  Himself  with- 
out a  witness,  and  watch  the  light  touching  on  the  lives  of  Seth, 
Enoch,  and  Noah,  till  it  rests  more  broadly  on  the  head  of  Abraham, 
the  progenitor  of  Israel,  the  Father  of  the  Faithful  in  all  genera- 
tions, and  the  friend  of  God,  following  it  on  in  all  its  after  develop- 
ment till  we  pause  at  the  Apostle's  conclusion :  "  He  saith  not, 
And  to  seeds,  as  of  many ;  but  as  of  one,  And  to  thy  seed,  which 
is  Christ."  (Gal.  iii.  i6.)  Or,  again,  let  us  take  the  thought  of 
THE  KINGDOM,  SO  piomincut  throughout  the  whole  course  of 
Scripture  teaching.  We  go  back  to  Gen.  iii.,  and  see  Adam — 
God's  appointed  vicegerent  on  earth — descending  at  the  instance 
of  the  tempter  from  his  high  position,  and  voluntarily  allowing 
his  government  to  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  usurper ;  but  inas- 
much as  the  .'Imighty  word  has  gone  forth  that  humanity  should 
"have  dominion,"  the  faithless  act  must  be  retrieved,  the  abdica- 
ted throne  must  find  its  occupant,  the  bartered  inheritance  must 
be  purchased  back  again,  even  though  the  redemption  shall  cost 
the  life  of  the  conquering  Redeemer.  There  are  years  of  darkness 
and  of  waiting  to  come  between,  there  are  depths  of  mysterious 
agony,  which  none  but  the  God-man  could  fathom,  but  "  He 
shall  not  fail  nor  be  discouraged."  We  may  trace  through  the 
law  of  Moses,  the  Prophets  and  the  Psalms,  all  things  that  were 
to  be  fulfilled  concerning  Him,  and  following  Him  through  the 
dark  passage  of  the  tomb  and  the  open  gate  of  His  glorious  Resur- 
rection, the  eye  of  faith  sees  Him  now  crowned  with  glory  and 
honour  (Heb.  ii.  9).  We  shall  see  Him  ere  long  wearing  His 
many  crowns — the  "  last  Adam,  the  Lord  from  Heaven,"  as  reign- 
ing Monarch  of  the  universe  (Psalms  viii.,  Heb.  ii.,)  the  once  rejec- 
ted but  now  triumphant  Messiah  of  Israel  (Psalms  ex.,  Luke  i.  32, 
33),  the  risen  Head  and  Bridegroom  King  of  His  blood-bought 
Church  (Cant.  iii.  11,  Rev.  xix).  Then,  and  not  till  then,  shall 
the  God  of  Heaven  vindicate  His  insulted  honour,  and  "  the  king- 
doms of  this  world  shall  become  the  kingdom  of  our  Lord  and  of 
His  Christ." 

All  this  is  very  cursory.  It  is  merely  thrown  out  as  suggestive, 
and  such  suggestions  might  be  multiplied  indefinitely.  There  are 
the  successive  dispensations,  each  with  its  own  peculiar  teaching. 
There  is  the  elect  nation,  involving  and  foreshadowing  the  great 
truth  of  an  elect  Church,  to  be  hereafter  manifested  to  the  praise 
of  the  glory  of  His  grace.  But  enough,  if  we  may  only  be  per- 
mitted to  put  the  latch  on  the  door  for  a  few  yearning  hearts, 
into  some  of  the  chambers  of  God's  great  treasure-house.     Shall 


56  NOTES    FO\    BIBLE    READINGS. 

we  not  all  realize,  as  we  launch  out  on  the  ocean  of  His  revealed 
love,  that  "there  are  shallows  in  which  the  lamb  may  wade,  and 
depths  in  which  the  elephant  must  swim  ?  " 

Let  us  come  now  to  some  very  simple  and  practical  hints.  The 
right  use  of  the  Concordance  is  a  more  important  subject  than 
may  appear  at  first  sight.  When  legitimately  employed,  it  is 
invaluable  ;  but  as  commonly  resorted  to  in  these  hasty  and 
superficial  days,  it  may  become  a  positive  evil.  Let  us  make 
every  effort  to  discover  a  verse,  and  recollect  its  context,  before  we 
fall  back  on  such  help.  We  believe  no  one  will  ever  become  a 
good  textuary  who  opens  a  Concordance  without  any  feeling  of 
regret  or  shame  at  the  necessity  of  applying  to  it.  The  practice 
should  certainly  not  become  habitual  with  our  young  Bible- 
students,  however  much  it  may  be  needed  in  after  years  of  pressure 
and  failing  memory.  But  a  mode  of  study  which  the  Concordance 
will  be  found  most  helpful,  is  the  selection  of  some  subject  in 
which  the  leading  word  may  be  traced  through  all  the  pages  where 
it  occurs,  and  afterwards  worked  out  isn  the  variety  of  its  bearings. 
Take,  for  example,  redemption,  holiness,  charity,  any  central 
word  embodying  the  thought  you  wish  to  investigate,  and  follow 
it  out  through  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  Scripture  field,  till  it 
becomes  in-wrought  into  the  tissue  of  your  memory  and  mind. 
It  will  be  food  for  your  own  soul,  and  subject-matter  for  your 
teaching.  Again,  take  the  life  of  some  child  of  God,  as  recorded 
by  the  inspired  writers — gathered  out,  as  it  often  needs  to  be,  with 
much  care  and  diligence  from  various  sources  ; — sometimes  an 
allusion  in  one  place,  or  a  quotation  in  another,  adding  to  our 
material  where  wc  least  expect  it  (for  instance,  we  go  to  Psalm 
xcix.  to  find  that  Moses  was  called  a  priest :  to  Acts  vii.  to  be 
told  that  he  was  **  learned  in  all  the  wisdom  of  the  Egyptians  ;  " 
and  to  Heb.  xi.  to  learn  that  he  refused  to  be  called  the  son  Oi 
Pharaoh's  daughter ;)  and  having  sketched  the  biography  with 
as  much  accuracy  as  possible,  go  through  it  again,  with  special 
reference  to  its  typical  meaning. 

And  this  brings  us  to  a  subject  where  we  must  tread  softly,  and 
speak  very  humbly — the  allegorical  and  figurative  teaching  of 
Scripture  history.  ■  While  we  see,  on  the  one  hand,  the  marvellous 
depth  and  fulness  of  the  Book  of  God,  promise  within  promise 
*'  infolding  itself,"  prophecies  reading  on  into  the  "  ages  ot  the 
ages,"  stories  wrapping  up  within  their  simple  outline  lessons  (/>. 
undeveloped  mysteries;  yet  must  we  be  very  jealous,  on  the 
other  hand,  lest  human  wisdom  usurp  the  office  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  or  human  fancy  play  with  the  typical  and  the  mj^stical, 
and  bring  its  own  flowers  into  the  hallowed  garden  of  the  Lord. 
Wherever  we  have  Scripture  interpretation  of  symbolic  language, 
or  Scripture  light  falling  on  typical  actions  and  persons,  let  us 
apply  it  to  the  utmost  extent,  but  beware  at  the  same  time  that 
we  never  speak  dogmatically  where  God  has  not  spoken,  lest  we 
be  found  to  "  darken  counsel  by  words  without  knowledge."  How 
many  books  of  so-called  Bible  teaching  are  calculated  to  bewilder 
rather  than  enlighten  the  student. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  CK 

Perhaps  one  check  upon  the  fanciful  inventions  which  so  dis- 
honor the  Word  of  God  might  be  found  in  a  more  earnest  desire 
and  faithful  purpose  to  discover  its  practical  bearing  on  our  daily 
life.  It  needs  be  that  we  maintain  an  exact  proportion  between 
increase  in  knowledge  and  growth  in  holiness,  a  corresponding 
development  ol  the  enlightened  understanding  and  the  "  enlarged 
heart,"  lest  we  be  found  among  those  whose  crushing  sentence 
will  be  that  they  "■  knew  their  Lord's  will  and  did  it  not."  An  in- 
tellectual apprehension  of  Scripture  truth  which  leaves  the  affec- 
tions untouched  and  the  life  unsanctified,  will  prove  a  powerless 
thing  when  we  are  called  to  witness  for  our  absent  Master,  in 
daily  conflict  with  the  world,  the  flesh  and  the  devil.  The  Bible 
loved  and  the  Bible  livedo  will  be  the  only  true  sequel  to  the  Bible 
studied. 


CONSECUTIVE  READING  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


The  Bible  is  one  Book.  It  is  human  history  by  a  Divine 
Historian.  No  other  book  would  yield  any  such  result  as  the 
Bible,  if  it  were  read  piecemeal  and  spasmodically,  as  the  Bible  is 
read.  For  just  as  the  Church  is  built  of  living  stones,  so  the  Bible 
is  composed  of  truths,  every  one  of  which  is  full  of  life.  But  as 
the  fulness  of  the  blessing  of  the  gospel  of  Christ  is  exhibited  in 
the  Church,  which  is  his  body,  the  fulness  of  Him  who  fllleth  all 
in  all,  so  if  we  want  to  know  the  full  blessedness  of  the  Word  of 
God,  we  must  receive  it  in  its  entirety,  and  read  it  as  the  Holy 
Ghost  has  given  it  to  us.  Perhaps  no  chapter  is  more  familiar  than 
Luke  XV.;  but  how  few  have  observed  that  chapters  xv.  and  Xvi. 
are  but  portions  of  one  discourse,  and  that  the  five  parables  must 
be  consecutively  read,  if  we  would  see  how  the  Lord  not  only 
justifies  Himself  in  receiving  and  eating  with  publicans  and  sin- 
ners, but  rebukes  the  accusing  Pharisees  and  Scribes,  and,  as  the 
€lder  son,  the  unjust  steward,  and  the  rich  man,  shows  their  self- 
righteousness,  their  unrighteousness,  and  their  doom. 

Mr.  George  Muller,  of  Bristol,  says: — Though  in  my  earlier  life 
'  I  was  engaged  in  the  ministry  of  the  Word  in  my  own  country,  I 
neglected  for  four  years  the  consecutive  reading  of  the  Bible.  The 
•consequence  was,  I  was  a  babe  in  knowledge  and  in  grace.  I  made 
no  progress,  because  I  neglected  God's  own  appointed  means  tor 
nourishing  the  divine  life.  But  it  pleased  God  to  lead  me  to  love 
His  Word.  I  was  led  to  see  that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  the  only  in- 
structor of  the  soul,  and  that  the  Word  is  the  medium  by  which 
He  teaches.  Spending  three  hours  on  my  knees,  I  made  such  pro- 
gress that  I  learned  more  in  those  three  hours  than  in  years  before. 
From  that  time  I  became  a  lover  of  the  Word  of  God  ;  and  in  this 
way  I  have  been  going  on  ever  since.  In  July,  1829,  I  began  this 
plan  of  reading  from  the  beginning  the  Old  and  the  New  Testa- 
ments. Before  I  had  been  treating  the  Bible  as  a  lottery,  reading 
at  just  where  I  opened.     Of  course  after  a   time  it    opened  just  in 


58  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

the  same  place,  and  I  got  accustomed  to  read  only  certain  portions^ 
Consequently  I  knew  nothing  even  of  the  letter  of  much  of  the 
Word  of  God.  But  under  my  new  plan,  little  by  little,  I  made 
more  and  more  progress  ;  and  thus  it  came  to  this,  that  when  I  was 
asked  where  any  text  was  to  be  found  I  could  give  chapter  and 
verse — became,  in  fact,  a  living  concordance.  A  few  years  after 
I  began  this  method  I  was  in  a  large  drawing-room  in  a  nobleman's 
house.  Most  there  had  known  the  Lord  longer  than  I,  but  they 
referred  to  me,  and  I  could  tell  where  passages  they  wanted  were 
to  be  found.  This  came  by  habitually  reading  the  Scriptures- 
through. 

At  one  time  I  came  to  i  Chronicles.  I  thought  "  The  first  ten 
chapters  consist  almost  entirely  of  names.  I  have  read  them 
recently  :  I  may  pass  them  over  now."  But  I  reflected  that  it  was 
the  Word  of  God,  and  read  the  whole.  At  the  fourth  chapter  I 
came  to  Jabez's  prayer,  "Oh,  that  Thou  wouldest  bless  me  indeed," 
&c.,  and  God  gave  me  a  rich  blessing  in  my  soul  in  reading  that 
God  gave  him  that  which  he  requested.  I  now  read  i  Chron.  with 
the  same  delight  as  the  Gospels,  the  Psalms,  or  the  Epistles. 

I  would  recommend  you  not  to  read  always  the  Old  or  the  New 
Testament,  but  alternately,  e.g.,  the  Old  in  the  morning,  and  the 
New  in  the  evening.  One  especial  blessing  that  will  come  to  the 
soul  is  this  :  God  furnishes  a  variety  of  food,  and  this  He  gives  in 
His  whole  revelation.  This  is  deeply  important.  We  are  thus, 
kept  from  partial  and  favourite  views,  which  are  poison  to  the 
soul.  There  seem  apparent  contradictions  in  the  Word,  but  by 
patiently  and  calmly  going  on  reading  and  meditating,  these  are 
removed.  I  have  read  through  the  Bible  more  than  a  hundred 
times,  and  I  find  no  stumbling-block  at  all.  This  is  because  I  am 
satisfied  with  God.  The  first,  the  greatest  thing  in  the  divine  life 
is  to  know  God — not  according  to  notions  of  Him  current  in  the 
Church,  but  as  He  is  revealed  in  the  Word.  You  will  find  Him 
such  a  lovable  Being,  of  infinite  wisdom  and  power  ;  and  He 
exercises  these  on  behalf  ot  His  people.  How  kind,  how  gracious, 
how  gentle  He  is!  The  great  point  is  to  become  acquainted  with 
Him  as  He  is  revealed  in  his  Word,  not  according  to  men's  notions 
of  Him.  Have  we  not  thought  of  Him  as  an  austere  Being  ?  but 
he  that  has  become  acquainted  with  God  says  with  the  Psalmist 
(ix.)       "  They  that  know  Thy  name  will   put  their  trust  in  Thee."^ 

By  thus  regularly  reading,  the  love  of  the  Scriptures  is  kept  up^ 
When  I  have  read  them  through  I  am  as  delighted  to  begin  again 
as  I  was  forty-six  years  ago.  Of  course  this  is  by  the  grace  of 
God,  but  instrumentally  it  is  through  this  habit  oi  consecutive 
reading. 

Mr.  Muller  closed  with  two  illustrations  of  the  value  of  consec- 
utive reading,  one  shewing  the  connection  between  Exodus  iii.  5. 
and  Joshua  v.  15  ;  the  other  between  John  vii.  53  and  viii.  i  ;  both 
of  which  would  probably  be  unperceived  if  the  Bible  were  not  con- 
secutively read. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  50 


READING  AND  MARKING  THE  BIBLE. 


Some  useful  hints  have  been  freely  taken  from  Mr.  Moody  and 
other  sources,  but  the  chief  features  of  this  view  of  the  subject  are 
the  result  of  several  years'  experience  of  the  writer  and  various 
friends  who  have  adopted  his  system. 

We  assume  that  the  reader  has  opportunity  and  inclination  to 
read  the  precious  Word  of  God  at  least  two  or  three  times  a  day. 
We  earnestly  recommend  him  to  observe  these  occasions  regularly^ 
and  to  follow  a  systematic  course  of  reading,  or  two  or  three 
courses.  For  instance,  there  are  few  who  cannot  by  means  of  early 
rising  procure  twenty  minutes,  or  even  an  hour,  for  Bible-reading 
in  the  mornmg  ;  if  this  is  his  longest  opportunity,  it  might  be  best 
employed  in  getting  a  connected  view  of  an  historical  period,  with- 
out entering  deeply  into  the  subject,  (see  No.  i  below).  In  the 
evening  he  may  employ  the  same  length  of  time  in  reading  a  short- 
er portion  from  some  one  writer  (as  No.  2  below).  Each  of  these 
exercises  must  be  entered  upon  with  earnest  prayer  ;  but  the  study 
of  a  single  passage  (as  No.  3)  is  perhaps  of  the  most  devotional 
character,  though  the  effects  of  the  former  modes  upon  the  heart 
and  mind  cannot  be  less  evident.  We  would  recommend  the  latter 
for  noonday  reading,  if  available,  or  it  may  be  blended  with  the 
others.  On  all  these  occasions  the  reader  may  carefully  mark  any- 
thing which  strikes  him. 

The  reader  should  have  a  good,  portable  reference  Bible — either 
Bagster's  Polyglot  edition,  or  the  Oxford  S.  S.  Teacher's  with  con- 
cordance, index,  &c.,  Frowd's  Margin  or  Bagster's  wide  margin 
Bible,  is  recommended.  The  first  is  in  extensive  use,  and  is  pub- 
lished in  three  sizes,  fac  simile  of  each  other;  the  second  is  well 
suited  for  tabulating  and  marking,  the  last  has  the  advantage  of 
wide  margins  for  notes.  The  following  works  are  more  or  less  in- 
dispensable, and  the  price  of  the  first  two  is  very  little  : — 
"  Cruden's  Concordance";  '*  The  Scripture  Text-Book  and  Trea- 
sury," recommended  by  Mr.  Moody ;  "  Inglis'  Bible-Text  Cyclo- 
paedia"; "  Townsend's  Chronological  Harmony  of  the  Bible";  and 
the  "  Englishman's  Greek  Concordance,"  in  which  the  Greek  par- 
allelisms are  exhibited  for  English  readers  in  the  words  of  our 
English  version. 

I.  The  simplest  course  of  reading  should  be  chronological — i.  e.y 
in  the  order  of  the  narrative,  without  regarding  the  ordinary  ar- 
rangement of  the  books,  nor  of  their  several  contents.  Thus,  one 
book  must  sometimes  be  inserted  in  another,  and  the  difierent 
parts  of  a  book  transposed.  It  will  give  a  great  additional  interest 
to  the  historical  portions  of  the  Sacred  Word  to  have  them  thus 
naturally  interspersed  with  the  poetical  or  prophetical  writings, 
while  it  will  also  show  the  prog^ress  of  revelation.  The  reader  who 


€0  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

has  not  access  to  a  good  "  Harmony"  can  generally  find  indica- 
tions of  date  in  the  references,  or  in  the  inspired  inscriptions  of 
some  of  the  chapters,  as,  for  instance,  Psalm  li.:  "A  Psalm  of 
David,  when  Nathan  the  prophet  came  to  him":  so  with  Psalms 
lii.  and  liv.,  Isaiah  vi.  and  vii.,  and  many  others. 

The  following  rough  sketch  of  the  historical  order  of  the  Old 
Testament  may  be  acceptable  to  some  of  our  readers  : — Gensis  i. 
to  X.,  Job  (date  uncertain),  Genesis  xi.  to  the  end  ;  Exodus  i.  and 
ii.,  Psalm  Ixxxviii.,  Exodus  iii.  to  end  ;  Leviticus ;  Number  i.  to 
xiv..  Psalm  xc,  Numbers  xv.  to  the  end  ;  Deuteronomy  ;  Joshua; 
Judges i.,  ii.,  xvii.  to xxi.,  and  iii. to  xvi.;  Ruth;  i  Samuel  i. to  xxx., 
with  about  twenty  of  the  Davidic  Psalms  (i  Chronicles  i.  to  ix.  is 
a  genealogy  of  the  preceding  history);  i  Chronicles  x.  to  the  end, 
parallel  with  i  Samuel  xxxi.  to  the  end  of  2  Samuel,  and  the 
remainder  of  the  Davidic  Psalms  ;  i  Kings  i.  to  iv.,  2  Chronicles 
i.;  Song  of  Solomon  ;  Proverbs  ;  i  Kings  v.  to  xi.,  2  Chronicles  ii. 
to  ix. ;  Ecclesiastes  ;  i  Kings  xii.  to  the  end  of  2  Kings  xiv.,  and  2 
Chronicles  xxv.,  2  Kings  xv.  to  the  end,  2  Chronicles  xxvi.  to  the 
€nd,  parallel  with  the  prophets  (see  inscriptions,  &c),  as  follows: 
Jonah,  Joel,  Amos,  Hosea,  Isaiah,  Micah,  Nahum,  Zephaniah, 
Jeremiah,  Lamentations,  Habakkuk,  Daniel,  Obadiah,  Ezekiel, 
Haggai,    Zechariah,    Esther,    Ezra,    Nehemiah,    Malachi. 

2.  Simultaneously  with  this  he  may  study  one  book  separately  ; 
noticing,  firstly,  its  external  circumstances — who  wrote  it  ?  when  ? 
where  ?  &c. ;  then  its  natural  structure  and  scope  ;  discover  and 
analyse  its  natural  divisions  ;  and  thus,  if  he  wishes,  draw  up  his 
own  table  of  contents.     Take  an  illustration  of  this  : — 

The  last  twenty-seven  chapters  of  Isaiah  form  one  single  great 
prophecy,  the  subject  of  which  is  Jehovah's  servant,  Christ.  The 
prophecy  is  subdivided  into  three  books;  the  first  and  second  both 
€nd  with  the  solemn  words:  "  There  is  no  peace,  saith  the  Lord, 
unto  the  wicked";  and  at  the  end  of  the  third  the  lot  of  the  wicked 
is  more  fully  described  :  "Their  worm  shall  not  die,  neither  shall 
their  fire  be  quenched,  and  they  shall  bean  abhorring  unto  all  flesh." 
Each  of  these  books  consists  of  three  sections  of  three  chapters 
each,  corresponding  pretty  closely  with  the  divisions  in  our  English 
Bibles,  though  not  exactly.  The  following  table  exhibits  this 
division  to  the  eye:-»- 

Chapter.  Chapter,  Chapter, 

XL.  XLIX.  LVIII. 

XLI.  L.  LIX. 

XLII.-XLIII.  13.  LI.  LX. 

XLIII.   I4-XLIV.  5.  LII.   I-I2.  LXI. 

XLIV.  6-23.  LIII.  LXII. 

XLiv.  24XLV.  end.  liv.  lxiii.  1-6. 

xLvi.  Lv.  lxiii.  7-LXIV.  end, 

XLVII.  LVI.  1-8.  LXV. 

XLVIII.  LVI.  9-LVII.  21.  •         LXVI. 

Thus  the  fifty-third  is  the  middle  chapter  of  the  middle  book  of 


NOTES    FOR   B.BLE    READINGS.  6l 

this  great  prophecy,  as  it  is  indeed  the  heart  of  the  prophetic 
"writings  of  the  Old  Testament ;  and  the  central  verse  of  the 
central  chapter  contains  the  cex.tral  truth  of  the  Gospel, — the 
truth  that  both  among  Jews,  and  Greeks,  and  heathen  of  every 
name  and  nation  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  : — "  He  was 
wounded  for  our  transgressions,  He  was  bruised  for  our  iniquities, 
the  chastisement  of  our  peace  was  upon  Him,  and  with  his  stripes 
we  are  healed." 

Similarly,  Psalm  xxii.  occupies  the  centre  of  the  first  book  of 
Psalms  (Psalm  i.  and  ii.  being  introductory),  and  the  sentence, 
"  They  pierced  my  hands  and  my  feet,"  is  in  the  middle. 

[The  above  instances  were  suggested  by  Dr.  Kay's  excellent 
work  on  the  Psalms.] 

It  does  not  seem  generally  known  that  the  Psalms  are  composed 
of  five  books,  naturally  divided  thus : — Psalms  i.  and  ii.  introduction 
to  the  whole  Psalter,  or  included  in)  Book  I.,  Psalms  i.  to  xli.;. 
Book  n..  Psalms  xlii.  to  Ixxii.;  Book  HI.,  Psalms  Ixxiii.  to  Ixxxix. 
Book  IV.,  Psalms  xc.  to  cvi..  Book  V.,  Psalms  cvi.  to  cl. 

3.  But  perhaps  the  most  delightful  and  profitable  spiritual 
exercise  is  to  carefully  and  prayerfully  study  a  single '  passage. 
Proceed  thus :  consider  the  external  circumstances,  both  as  to  the 
writer  and  the  subject-matter  itself;  consider  the  scope  of  the 
paragraph  or  chapter  containing  the  passage ;  remark  the  structure; 
compare  it  with  its  connexion,  and  with  marginal  references;  ponder 
the  words  ;  endeavour  to  grasp  the  idea  of  the  words  ;  and  make 
the  required  application*  A.  B. 


USE  OF  BIBLE  IN  INQUIRY  ROOM. 


BY   D.    W.    WHITTLE.   ' 


I  St.  Unconditional  submission  to  the  authority  oi  the  Word. 
Enter  into  no  argument  upon  the  authenticity  of  the  Scriptures. 
Lessen  the  power  of  no  part  of  the  Bible  by  any  admission  as  to 
any  part  not  being  of  God,  given  by  inspiration  ;  with  rare  excep- 
tions, those  who  desire  such  arguments  are  not  honest,  they  are 
not  seeking  light  but  fortifying  themselves  in  darkness.  You  can- 
not help  them.  Should  you  meet  with  one  who  has  an  honest 
desire  for  information  as  to  the  history  of  the  composition  and 
compilation  of  the  Scriptures,  you  can  place  him  in  the  way  of 
obtaining  it ;  but  do  not  occupy  the  time  in  the  Inquiry  Room 
upon  the  subject.  If  two  men  were  to  meet  to  engage  in  conflict 
with  swords,  and  one  were  to  say  to  the  other :  "  Now  before  be- 
ginning the  battle,  I  desire  to  know  the  history  of  your  sword,  and 
to  have  proof  of  the  authenticity  of  its  claims  as  a  sword,"  a 
proper  reply  would  be,  "  That  question  can  be  easily  settled  by 
our  at  once  commencing  the  conflict.  I  will  show  you  by  my  use 
of  my  weapon,  the  reality  of  its  being  a  sword." 

So  we   ought  to  so  use  the  Word  as  '*  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,'* 


62  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

in  the  application  of  its  truths  to  the  conscience  of  the  sinner,  tliat 
he  will  not  want  any  historical  proof  as  to  the  message  being  from 
God.  Infidelity  concerning  parts  of  the  Bible  is  very  prevalent. 
Many  professed  Christians  are  not  ashamed  to  say  that  they  do 
not  believe  all  the  Bible,  and,  as  a  rule  the  unconverted  man 
reserves  the  right  of  rejecting  whatever  he  pleases.  To  one  who 
has  been  but  a  surface  student  of  the  Word,  and  has  not  seen  the 
place,  in  gradual  unfolding,  in  typical  teaching,  in  prophetic 
symbolism,  that  every  chapter  and  verse  of  the  Bible  has  in  the 
revelation  of  God's  scheme  of  redemption  for  ruined  man  and  sin 
cursed  earth,  it  seems  an  unimportant  matter  to  answer  the  doubts 
of  the  unbeliever  by  saying,  ''  Well,  perhaps  that  ought  not  to  be 
in  the  Bible,"  or,  "  It  is  probably  a  mistranslation.  It  would  have 
been  better  to  have  had  several  books  of  the  Old  Testament  left 
out,"  or,  "  It  isn't  necessary  that  you  should  believe  that,"  or 
some  similar  admission  that  yields  the  point  to  the  devil  and 
makes  God  a  liar.  Such  do  not  realize  their  sin  in  dishonouring 
God,  nor  the  evil  consequences  of  their  infidelity  to  the  inquirer. 
If  the  Word  is  impeached  in  one  part,  discredit  is  thrown  upon 
every  part.  And  whatever  profession  a  man  may  be  led  to  make 
that  he  trusts  Christ  as  his  Saviour,  if  he  has  admitted  doubt  into 
his  mind  as  to  any  part  of  the  Scripture,  he  has  no  assurance  as 
to  his  own  acceptance,  and  no  peace  in  believing. 

Every  worker  in  the  Inquiry  Room  will  frequently  meet  with 
the  question  :  "  Now  do  you  really  believe  a}l  the  Bible  ?  Must 
we  believe  that  Jonah  was  swallowed  by  a  whale,  and  about  the 
flood,  and  so  on  ?"  The  answer  should  be  given  with  the  same 
seriousness,  and  in  a  manner  calculated  to  make  the  same  impres- 
sion, that  the  reply  of  a  wife,  who  justly  revered  her  husband, 
would  produce  if  she  were  asked  if  she  really  believed  her 
husband  always  spoke  the  truth. 

Let  the  answer  of  every  child  of  God  ever  be  :  "  All  Scripture 
is  given  by  inspiration  of  God.  Every  part  of  the  Bible  is 
literally  true.  I  believe  the  Word  just  as  God  has  spoken  it  how 
'dare  you  suggest  that  I  doubt  it !  " 

Much  might  be  said  upon  this  subject,  and,  perhaps,  not  too 
much  if  it  led  us  into  the  deeper  sense  of  the  reality  of  the  Bible  as 
the  word  of  the  living  God,  and  a  more  profound  reverence  for  it 
as  the  book  of  truth.  Certainly  the  Holy  Ghost  cannot  use  an 
infidel  to  bring  souls  to  Christ,  and  if  infidelity  is.in  our  hearts, 
our  labor  will  count  for  naught.  We  must  go  to  God  and  confess 
it  as  a  sin,  and  look  to  Christ  for  deliverance  from  it.  And,  as 
we  should  treat  it  as  a  sin  in  ourselves,  so  we  should  treat 
it  as  a  sin  in  others.  It  is  not  for  us  to  sympathize,  in  a  false 
sense,  with  those  who  say  they  can't  believe  the  Word  of  God, 
but  to  tell  them  plainly  that  unbelief  is  the  vilest  sin  the  soul  of 
man  is  capable  of  committing  against  a  Holy  God,  and  that  it 
must  be  repented  of  and  forgiveness  through  the  blood  of  Christ 
received,  or  it  will  inevitably  land  the  sor'    n  eternal  perdition. 

A  dear  minister,  in  St.  Louis,  was  met  in  the  Inquiry  Room  one 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  63 

evening  by  an  intelligent  man  who  answered  his  appeal  to  him  to 
accept  Christ,  by  saying  that  he  couldn't  believe  the  Bible.  His 
reply  was,  "  Well,  sir,  whether  you  believe  it  or  not  the  Bible  is 
true,  and  if  you  don't  believe  it  you  will  be  lost."  The  gentleman 
looked  at  him  for  a  moment  and  knew  from  the  expression  of  my 
friend  that  he  had  replied  from  the  profound  convictions  of  his 
own  soul.  His  next  objection  was,  "  I  can't  believe  that  Jesus 
Christ  was  the  Son  of  God  ;"  the  answer  was,  "  Well,  the  Bible 
says  He  was  the  Son  of  God,  and  whether  you  believe  it  or  not, 
He  is  the  Son  of  God,  and  if  you  do  not  believe  it  you  will  be 
damned." 

The  minister  turned  away  with  the  impression  that  the  gentle- 
man would  be  angry,  but  believing  he  had  been  guided  aright.  A 
friend  oi  the  inquirer  remonstrated  with  him,  that  he  had  not 
argued  the  question,  but  he  left  it  in  the  hands  of  God.  Within  a 
few  minutes,  the  gentleman  came  to  him  with  the  question :  "What 
must  I  do  about  this  matter  ?  How  can  I  be  saved  ?"  Was 
pointed  to  the  cross,  and  knelt  with  tears  of  thanksgiving  and 
praise  to  Christ  as  his  Saviour.  God  admits  of  no  excuse,  no 
palliation  for  unbelief;  and  surely  God  cannot  be  beseeching 
sinners  by  us,  while  we  are  in  a  mock  condition  of  sympathy  with 
the  unbeliever,  and  smoothing  over  and  palliating  his  sin,  rather 
than  showing  him  its  heinousness  and  awful  condemnation. 

Our  power  in  the  use  of  the  Word  depends  upon  answering 
faith  in  its  infallibility,  "  Thus  saith  the  Lord,"  must  be  to  us  all 
■sufiicient,  for  ourselves  and  for  others.  With  the  firm  belief  ol 
the  truth  of  Christ's  declaration  "  That  the  Scriptures  cannot  be 
broken,"  we  will  handle  our  weapon  with  confidence,  we  will 
wield  it  with  all  our  strength.  With  these  words  of  introduction 
as  to  the  Word  let  us  pass  on  to  specific  suggestions  as  to  its  use 
in  bringing  souls  to  Christ. 

In  the  army,  the  ammunition  for  the  soldiers  starts  from  the  ar- 
senal. In  a  general  sense  all  the  ammunition  for  the  army  is  pre- 
pared there  from  same  material  and  for  same  purpose.  When 
sent  out  it  is  sorted,  and  each  command  receives  that  fitted  to 
the  calibre  of  their  weapons.  Each  soldier  receives  all  he  has 
capacity  to  carry,  and  for  which  he  is  expected  to  have  immediate 
use.  So  with  the  Bible.  It  is  God's  arsenal.  All  of  its  truths 
are  from  Him.  All  for  the  purpose  of  glorifying  Christ,  and  over- 
coming the  power  of  sin.  But  when  these  truths  are  to  be  put  in 
action,  they  are  sorted.  We  are  to  select  as  led  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
passages  adapted  to  our  calibre.  We  should  never  put  before 
others  a  message  from  God's  word,  that  dosen't  come  hot  from 
our  own  hearts,  or  use  truth  that  we  have  not  ourselves  digested. 
So  we  are  made  able  ministers,  as  in  2  Cor.  iii.  6.  We  should 
gather  from  the  Bible,  for  use  according  to  our  capacity.  We 
should  not  attempt  to  teach  beyond  our  apprehension  ;  and  of  the 
passages  that  have  fed  us,  and  that  we  can  carry,  we  should  al- 
ways have  at  hand,  as  the  individual  soldier  the  forty  rounds  in 
his  cartridge  box,  supply   for   immediate   use.     Classify   in    your 


64  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

mind,  or  what  is  better,  upon  a  sheet  of  paper,  the  truth  needed 
for  presentation  to  the  sinner,  then  under  each  head  of  the  classi- 
fication note  your  passages,  and  make  yourself  famihar  with  them, 
and  with  their  position  in  your  Bible.  Always  use  your  Bible  in 
referring  to  them.  Do  not  use  a  slip,  printed  or  otherwise,  and 
do  not  quote  from  memory.  Your  own  classifications,  and  your 
own  selections  of  passages,  will  be  better  foryour  own  use  than 
any  would  be  that  is  provided  for  you.  But  it  is  wise  to  compare 
with  others,  and  to  receive  suggestions  from  others.  And,  as  a 
suggestion,  I  offer  the  following  classification,  which  you  can  note 
down,  and  fill  out  with  your  own  Scripture  references. 

ist.  Requirements  of  God's  law. 

2nd.  Failure  of  man  to  keep  the  law. 

3rd.  Condition  of  man  condemned  by  the  law. 

4th.  Man's  rejection  of  God's  Son. 

5th.  Christ  as  the  substitute  under  the  law. 

6th.  Forgiveness  through  Christ. 

yth.  Illustrations  of  faith. 

8th.  Illustrations  of  salvation. 

With  the  general  line  of  truth  here  set  forth,  in  mind,  other 
classifications  will  suggest  themselves.  In  sitting  down  with  an 
inquirer  do  not  expect  that  you  must  use  all  your  ammunition  upon 
him.  Be  natural,  kind  and  courteous  in  your  approach  to  those 
v/ho  may  be  strangers  to  you  ;  win  their  confidence  by  your  sym- 
pathy and  genuine  interest  in  their  welfare,  and  ascertain  their 
condition  ;  ask  them  to  tell  you  frankly  just  how  much  they  are 
interested,  and  how  much  concern  they  feel  as  to  their  personal 
salvation. 

My  first  question  usually  to  an  inquirer  is,  **  Do  you  believe 
that  you  are  a  sinner  before  God,  and  lost  without  a  Saviour  ?" 
And  the  answer  to  this  determines  the  direction  of  the  instruction. 
If  you  find  that  conviction  has  been  produced  by  the  sermon,  and 
that  an  anxious  sinner  is  before  you,  do  not  seek  to  reproduce 
what  has  been  already  done  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  but,  if  he  admits 
his  lost  condition,  show  to  him  the  testimony  of  God's  word  as  to 
the  full  and  complete  satisfaction  made  by  the  death  of  Christ  for 
his  sins,  that  forgiveness  is  offered  to  faith,  and,  that  faith  is  to 
take  God  at  His  word  and  believe  the  record.  Urge  his  imme- 
diate surrender  to  God,  and  acceptance  of  the  Gospel.  On  the 
other  hand,  if  the  inquirer  is  only  awakened,  to  a  sort  of  half-way 
desire  to  become  a  Christian,  and  has  no  deep  convictions  as  to 
his  present  lost  condition,  and  of  the  nature  of  sin,  present  the 
truth  to  him  under  the  first  four  heads.  If  conviction  is  produced 
present  Christ,  and  urge  immediate  acceptance.  If  the  inquirer 
denies  the  testimony  of  the  Word  as  applied  to  himself,  and  tries 
to  justify  himself,  and  make  out  a  good  character,  and  clings  to 
his  self-righteousness,  he  is  not  in  a  condition  to  be  urged  to  say 
that  he  will  trust  in  Christ.  Show  him  what  Christ  has  done,  in 
connection  with  the  truth  as  to  his  own  utterly  lost  condition,  and 
leave  such   truth  with   him  as  will  sweep  away  his  false  views  of 


NOTES   FOR   BIBLE    READINGS.  Qe 

himself  and  lead  him  to  Christ.  Great  harm  is  done  in  pressing 
a  sinner  to  a  decision  before  the  Spirit  of  God  has  prepared  the 
way.  Our  one  anxiety  in  deaJir^g  with  souls  should  be,  to  be 
faithful,  as  in  Christ's  stead,  and  not  go  beyond  the  Spirit's  lead- 
ings. 

The  large  majority  of  those  we  shall  meet  in  the  Inquiry  Room, 
during  Mr.  Moody's  meetings,  if  we  can  judge  by  reports  ol  his 
work,  and  by  our  personal  knowledge  of  the  Holy  Spirit's  power 
that  he  has  -eceived,  will  be  those  prepared  by  faithful  presenta- 
tion of  the  truth,  accompanied  by  the  Spirit's  power  to  their  souls, 
to  be  tcld  ill  tnt,  simplest  possible  way  how  to  believe  ;  they  will 
see  that  tliey  are  lost,  they  will  see  that  Christ  is  a  Saviour,  they 
will  see.  the  plan  of  redemption,  the  one  absorbing  thought  will 
be,  "  Is  thei  e  salvation  for  me  ?  Can  I  be  saved  ?  How  can  I  get 
hold  of  Christ  ?"  Heie  is  the  blessedness  of  this  personal  work. 
God  seems  to  have  so  ordered  it  that  right  here  there  must  be 
personal  contact  between  the  Spirit  of  God  through  a  believer, 
and  in  the  word  of  God,  by  the  mouth  of  a  believer,  and  the  sin- 
ner, and  the  lebult  is  life. 

The  passages  most  used  by  the  Holy  Spirit  in  this  way,  in 
meetings  in  this  country,  and  as  I  have  seen  by  the  reports,  and 
have  heard  from  Mr.  Moody  himself  in  meetings  in  England,  have 
been  those  that  most  plainly  set  forth  Christ  as  the  sinner's  sub- 
stitute. John  iii.  i6,  and  its  use  will  illustrate  this.  Also  Isa.  liii. 
6.  Rom.  iii.  25.  Gal.  iii.  13.  i  Peter  ii.  24.  We  can  have  great 
confidence  in  magnifying  God's  grace,  and  preaching  an  uncondi- 
tional salvation. 

Our  part  is  to  make  known  the  Gospel — both  sides  of  it.  (2 
Cor.  ii.  16.)  God  will  take  care  of  the  result  if  we  use  his  Word 
in  dependence  upon  the  Holy  Spirit. 

To  get  the  sinner  to  look  away  from  self  to  Christ  is  our  work. 
The  sinner  under  conviction  is  kept  in  darkness  by  looking  at 
and  into  himself.  He  has  a  conception  of  what  a  religious  ex- 
perience ought  to  be,  and  waits  for  it  to  come  to  him.  He  tries 
to  work  up  his  feelings  by  thinking  of  his  sins,  and  by  thinking 
of  the  sufferings  of  Christ,  with  the  idea  that  when  he  has  pro- 
duced feeling  enough  that  will  be  a  religious  experience,  that  will 
be  conversion,  while  he  has  not  really  laid  hold  of  Christ  at  all 
by  a  saving  faith.  By  the  use  of  the  Word,  we  present  Christ  to 
the  sinner  as  the  object  of  faith,-  and  the  Scriptures  revealing 
Christ  as  the  ground  of  faith.  God's  promises  in  the  Gospel  are 
like  so  many  hands  held  out  to  the  sinner  to  draw  him  to  Jesus. 
We  read  of  Jesus  many  times  when  on  earth  "  He  put  forth  his 
hand  and  touched  him,"  '*  He  laid  his  hand  on  every  one  of  them 
and  healed  them."  So  his  hands  are  still  put  forth  in  the  Gospel 
invitations. 

A  dear  old  lady  came  once  to  a  meeting  where  Christians  were 
having  much  joy  in  the  apprehension  of  Christ,  and  trembling, 
ixu  J  with  tears,  arose  and  said  :  ''  I  want  you  should  pray  for  me, 
I  have  been  forty  years  a  member  of  a  Church,  but  am  not  a 


65  NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 

Christian.  I  have  never  had  any  assurance  that  my  sins  were 
forgiven.  I  was  convicted  of  sin  when  young,  and  earnestly 
sought  acceptance  with  God.  I  was  told  to  join  the  Church  and 
the  experience  I  desired  would  come.  I  did  so  and  have  strag- 
gled on  for  forty  years,  doing  every  duty,  so  far  as  in  my  power — 
doing  everything  that  Christians  do — but  I  am  not  saved."  She 
sat  down  weeping,  and  many  wept  with  her  for  sympathy,  at  the 
recital  of  her  long,  weary,  fruitless  forty  years  in  the  wilderness. 
She  was  pointed  to  the  record,  as  in  Rom.  iv.  24,  25,  and  v.  i, 
and  saw  by  the  Word  that  her  justification  was  an  accomplished 
fact  in  Christ,  and  that  the  way  to  appropriate  it  and  to  realize  it 
was,  not  by  feeling,  not  by  struggling  for  an  experience,  not  by 
joining  the  Church,  not  by  doing,  but  by  simply  believing  what 
God  said  about  it. 

Her  joy  was  like  the  joy  of  a  little  child.  This  Scripture  had 
revealed  Christ  to  her^  and  enabled  her  by  iaith  to  receive  Him 
into  her  heart. 

It  is  of  the  enemy  of  souls  to  lead  the  convicted  sinner  to  look 
for  the  experience  of  feeling  and  the  results  of  believing  before 
he  believes.  He  is  told,  and  truly  so,  tl^at  all  the  s<-eps  of  his 
conversion  must  be  the  work  oi  the  Holy  Spirit ;  that  he  must  be 
drawn  by  the  Spirit,  quickened  by  the  Spirit,  and  that  when  he 
is  born  again  that  "  the  Spirit  will  bear  witness  with  his  spirit 
that  he  is  a  child  of  God," — all  oi  which  13  mcst  blessedly  true — 
but  all  of  which  the  ai  xious  soul  will  invariably  misapply.  We 
are  to  show  him 'that  the  Holy  Spirit  does  all  this  through  the 
Word,  as  presenting  Christ.  That  he  is  drawn  by  the  Gospel  in- 
vitations, Matt.  xi.  28  ;  that  he  is  quickened  when  he  believes; 
that  "  Christ  was  delivered  for  his  sins,  and  was  raised  again  for 
his  justification,"  Rom.  iv.  25,  and  his  attention  should  be  speci- 
ally directed  to  the  testimony  that  the  sinner  can  know  nothing 
of  the  indwelling  and  the  witness  of  the  Holy  Spirit  until  after  he 
believes.  See  John  i.  12;  vii.  38,39;   i  John  v.  10-13,  Eph.i.  13;  and 

Rom.  viii.  16,  in  connection  with  Rom.  v.  i  and  viii.  i        *         * 
******* 

In  all  these  Scriptures,  and  in  every  Scripture  that  refers  to  the 
testimony  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  soul,  it  is  stated  or  implied 
that  the  soul  has  first  believed,  and  that  the  witness  of  the  Spirit 
accompanies  the  Iaith  that  is  exercised  in  the  message  of  salva- 
tion, and  never  comes  until  such  faith  is  exercised. 

We  must  lift  up  Jesus — Jesus  only,  as  revealed  in  the  Word, 
with  the  message  of  a  finished  and  complete  salvation,  before  the 
sinner,  and  insist — without  reference  to  his  excuses,  his  plea  of 
inability,  or  his  desire  for  delay — upon  his  immediate  duty  being 
the  surrender  of  his  will  to  God  in  the  believing  on  the  Lord 
Tesus  Christ.  Insist  that  the  will,  on  his  part,  to  be  saved  is  all 
he  wants.  Show  him  that  he  is  permitted  to  take  salvation,  and 
to  take  it  free,  Rev.  xxii.  17  ;  that  he  is  invited  to  take  it,  Matt. 
xi.  28.  Show  him  that  he  is  entreated  to  take  it,  2  Cor.  v.  20 ; 
that  he  is  commanded  to  take  it,  i  John  iii.  23  ;  and  finally,  that 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE.  READINGS.  67 

your  warrant  for  urging  him  is  that  your  Lord  has  said  :  *♦  Compel 
them  to  come  in,"  Luke  xiv.  23  ;  and  that  Christ  has  said  they 
are  lost  because  they  will  not  come.     John  v.  40. 

Always  leave  the  inquirer  with  his  finger  on  the  chapter  and 
verse  that  has  been  used  by  the  Spirit  to  give  him  light.  Tell 
him  to  make  much  of  that  Word  ;  to  rest  upon  that  and  not  upon 
his  feelings  as  to  the  fact  of  his  salvation. 

Never  consider  your  work  as  done  until  you  have  evidence  that 
the  sinner  fully  accepts  Christ,  and  he  can  say  that  he  fully  and 
joyfully  believes,  John  v.  2.4,  and  testify  on  the  authority  of  the 
Word  that  he  is  saved. 

Be  faithful  in  presenting  to  the  new-born  child  of  God  his  posi- 
=tion  as  a  follower  of  Christ,  in  this  world.  Show,  to  him  that  his 
growth  and  usefulness  as  a  Christian,  and  his  communion  with 
God,  will  depend  upon  his  being  dead  unto  sin,  and  living  in  the 
spirit  of  entire  consecration  to  God  and  separation  from  the 
world,  and  that  this  result  is  attained,  not  by  any  power  in  him-, 
self,  but  by  looking  constantly  unto  Jesus.  Urge  upon  him  his 
responsibility  for  the  souls  of  others,  and  his  immediate  duty  to 
labor  for  their  salvation.  If  we  can  lead  converts  to  convert 
others,  "we  have  a  double  joy,  a  double  crown. 


HOW  I  USE  THE  BIBLE  WITH  CHRISTIAN 

WORKERS. 


BY    REV.    DR.    JAMES    H.    BROOKS,    OF    ST.    LOUIS,    MO. 


I. — Acquaint  yourself  with  the  Bible. 

To  use  the  Bible  efficiently  in  your  work,  you  must  first  be 
acquainted  with  it.  Jesus  says  (John  v.39)  ^^Search  the  Scriptures," 
implying  that  you  must  go  down  beneath  the  surface  to  discover 
the  depths  of  the  riches  of  the  wisdom  ot  God.  In  Acts  xvii.  1 1 
it  is  written,  "  These  were  more  noble  than  those  in  Thessalonica." 
Notice  the  stamp  of  nobility  w^hich  God  recognizes.  Is  it  nobility 
of  birth  ?  social  station  ?  wealth  ?  learning  ?  No  !  These  were 
noble  men  and  women,  "in  that  they  received  the  Word  with  all 
readiness  of  mind,  and  searched  the  Scriptures  daily  whether  these 
things  were  so."  That  is  the  title  to  nobility  in  Cod's  estimation. 
Last  winter  in  St.  Louis,  when  the  snow  was  deep,  a  gentleman  on 
leaving  a  house  one  night  to  enter  his  sleigh  dropped  a  diamond 
ring.  It  sank  in  the  snow.  No  casual  search  for  it  would  answer. 
He  at  once  placed  near  the  spot  a  large  box,  hired  the  policeman 
to  keep  watch  during  the  night,  and  at  the  early  dawn  made 
persistent  search  until  he  found  it.  He  did  this  because  it  was 
something  precious  in  his  estimation.  But  what  is  a  diamond 
compared  with  the  riches  of  grace  and  glory  which  will  be  found 
in  this  blessed  book  ?  Seek  this  acquaintance  because,  (i)  By  it 
"we  are  born  again  :  Jas.  i.  18  ;  i  Peter  i.  23.  (2)  It  makes  clean  : 
John  XV.  3.     (3)  It  builds  up.     Paul  says  to  the  elders  at  Ephesus, 


68  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

"  The  Word  is  able  to  build  you  up  and  give  you  an  inheritance 
among  them  which  are  sanctified."  Also,  i  Peter  ii.  2.  (4)  It 
sanctifies  and  saves.  Jesus  says  (John  xvii.  17),  "  Sanctify  them 
through  thy  truth  ;  thy  Word  is  truth."      So  Paul,  2  Thes.  ii.  13. 

(5)  It  accomplishes   God's   will:    Isaiah  v.  lo-ii  ;    Jer.  xxiii.  29. 

(6)  It  is  all  powerful.  2  Cor.  x.  4.  In  Ephesians  vi.  17,  the 
one  weapon  given  for  attack  upon  the  foe  is  the  "  Sword  of  the 
Spirit,  which  is  the  Word  of  God."  (7)  It  is  all  sufficient,  as  Jesus 
declares.  Luke  vi.  31,  and  in  John  xv.  10-13,  we  are  told  "  He 
that  believeth  not  God  hath  made  him  a  liar."  Why  ?  Simply 
'*  because  he  believeth  not  the  record  which  God  gave  of  his  Son." 

2. — All  Scripture  is  of  God:  2  Tim.  iii.  16.  From  the  first 
word  of  Genesis  to  the  last  word  of  Revelation,  all  is  inspired  :  2 
Peter  i.  19-21.  "  We  have  a  more  sure  word."  More  sure  in  one 
sense  than  the  brightest  flashes  of  glory  that  were  ever  seen  upon 
the  Mount  of  Transfiguration.  A  great  many  people  think 
prophecy  is  a  dark  place.  God  says  here,  it  is  "  a  light  which 
shines  in  a  dark  place."  They  "  spake  as  they  were  moved,"  not 
as  they  thought,  not  as  they  imagined,  but  as  they  were  "moved  by 
the  Holy  Ghost."  Hence  Jesus  in  His  charge  to  His  disciples. 
Matt.  X.  19-20,  said  :  "  It  is  not  ye  that  speak  but  the  Spirit  of  your 
Father  which  speaketh  in  you."  See  also  Acts  iii.  21 ;  iv.  25  ;  2 
Samuel  xxiii.  2. 

Moreover  the  Scripture  is  called  :  (i)  The  oracles  of  God ;  Rom. 
iii.  1-2.  (2)  The  word  of  God:  Mark  vii.  13.  (3)  The  word  of 
the  Lord:  Acts  viii.  25,  (4)  The  word  of  Truth:  2  Cor.  vi.  7. 
(5)  The  word  of  Life  :  John  vi.  68.  (6)  The  word  of  Christ ;  Col. 
iii.  16.     (7)  The  word  of  Faith  :  Rom.  x.  8-9. 

1  want  to  press  this  text  home  upon  any  unsaved  friends.  The 
Word  is  nigh  you  to-night ;  nearer  than  when  St.  Paul  wrote  these 
verses.-  An  insane  woman  had  shut  herself  in  a  room  with  a  little 
child  till  both  were  nearly  dead.  When  we  burst  into  the  room 
we  found  the  child  laying  on  the  bed  able  only  to  whisper,  "water, 
water."  When  her  little  trembling  hands  pressed  the  goblet  to  her 
lips  she  was  scarcely  able  to  hold  it ;  but,  as  it  refreshed  her,  she 
seized  it  with  a  strong,  nervous  grasp.  When  your  perishing, 
thirsty  soul  receives  the  word  of  faith,  and  not  the  strength  of 
your  grasp  on  it,  but  the  divine  power  of  refreshing  Word  will 
give  consolation  and  strength. 

3. — All  Scripture  is  about  Christ ;  John  v.  39-46.  He  does  not 
say,  Search  part  of  them.  Again  read  Luke  iv.  21  ;  also  Luke 
xxiv.  25-27.  Now  observe,  that  beginning  at  Moses  and  all  the 
prophets  he  expounded  concerning  Himself;  Luke  xxiv.  32.  I  do 
not  wonder  that  their  hearts  burned  within  them.  Many  of  the 
hearts  of  God's  people  have  burned  within  them  when  they  have 
found  Christ  in  the  Old  Testament,  where  they  never  thought  of 
discovering  him  before.  In  Luke  xxiv.  44-45  he  says,  '^All  things 
are  written  there  about  Me,"  in  those  three  great  divisions  of  the 
Old  Testament.  Look  at  what  is  said  in  Matt.  i.  22-23.  Now 
turn  to  Isaiah  vii.  14.     A  still   more   emphatic   proof  is  found  in 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  69 

Matt.  ii.  13-15,  in  the  light  of  which  read  Hosea  xi.  i  ;  Acts  xvii. 
2-3.  He  did  not  reason  with  them  out  of  human  science,  human 
logic,  or  human  learning,  but  out  of  the  Old  Testament  Scriptures. 
Remember  this  when  you  are  attacked  as  Christian  workers  by 
fallible  science  ;  and  never  study  the  Bible  in  the  light  of  science, 
but  study  science  in  the  light  of  the  Bible.  If  you  want  to  make 
efficient  workers,  build  not  on  a  metaphysical  basis,  but  on  the 
divine  interpretation  of  God's  blessed  word.  Apollos  was  mighty 
here  ;  Acts  xviii.  28.  In  the  last  chapter  of  Acts,  23d  verse,  we 
see  Paul  occupied  all  day  with  the  Old  Testament  Scriptures. 
How  many  of  us  find  enough  in  the  Old  Testament  to  occupy  us 
all  day  ?  Mr.  Whittle  told  me  last  summer  of  an  unlettered  man 
who  had  studied  the  Bible  until  he  had  become  convinced,  without 
any  outside  suggestions,  that  the  last  clause  of  Romans  viii.  i,  did 
not  belong  there.  I  believe  that  man  was  taught  that  by  the  Holy 
Spirit. 

4. — All  Scripture  is  for  ourselves:  Rom.  xv.  4;  i  Cor.  iv.  2. 
Believe  and  act  as  if  you  believed  that  the  word  of  God  is  for  you ; 
become  acquainted  with  its  precious  words,  and  gently  lead  the 
lost  into  the  palace  of  God  :  i  Thess.  ii.  13.  The  poor  Empress 
Carlotta  had  escaped  from  her  palace.  Her  physician  knew  that 
a  rude  shock  would  dethrone  forever  her  tottering  reason.  Knowing 
her  fondness  for  flowers,  he  scattered  them  in  her  pathway,  and 
she,  charmed  like  a  child,  was  safely  led  back  again.  If  you  want 
to  become  efficient  workers  for  the  Master,  seek  for  and  strew  the 
beautiful  flowers  of  Scripture  in  the  paths  of  those  who  have 
wandered, 'and  lure  them  back  to  God. 

5. — Cherish  as  Christian  workers  a  feeling  of  dependence  on  the 
Holy  Spirit.  In  John  vii.  38,  39,  and  Acts  i.  8,  Jesus  inculcates 
this  dependence  upon  his  disciples.  In  Acts  vi.  5,  Stephen  is 
*'  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost,"  and  in  8th  verse,  we  find  him  "  full  of 
power."  We  also  receive  the  spirit  of  adoption :  Rom.  viii.  15, 
and  Gal.  iv.  6.  Until  with  child-like  confidence  we  know  God  as 
our  Father,  we  cannot  be  efficient  workers.  Little  May  Newton, 
three  years  old,  in  her  father's  arms,  fired  the  explosion  which 
opened  Hell  Gate  to  commerce.  And  the  child  of  God  who  is 
filled  with  His  spirit  finds  nothing  impossible  to  him  :  2  Tim.  i.  7. 

6. — To  become  efficient  workers,  make  use  of  prayer  in  connection 
with  the  Word :  Matt.  xxi.  21  ;  Luke  xi.  9  ;  John  xiv.  13,  and 
xvi.  24.  What  hath  God  wrought  in  answer  to  prayer:  Jas.v.  17, 18. 

7. — In  your  work  think  of  the  value  of  the  soul :  Matt.  xvi.  26  ; 
xviii.  10,  II,  14 ;  and  of  the  Lord's  approval:  2  Cor.  v.  9. 


7©  NOTES   FOR   BIBLE   READINGS, 


A  HELP  TO  READ  THE  ENGLISH  BIBLE. 


It  is  not  generally  known  that  in  the  Bibles  of  the  Americai> 
and  British  Bible  Societies,  and  also  in  those  of  some  publishing; 
houses,  at  least  three  different  names  of  God  in  the  Old  Testament. 
are  indicated  by  a  difference  of  type. 

Let  any  one  read  the  Bible  with  a  knowledge  of  the  meaning  of 
these  names,  and  of  the  hint  given  in  the  kind  of  type,  and  many 
passages  will  shed  forth  more  light.  Especially  will  this  be  found' 
true  of  many  psalms  and  prophecies  wherein  different  persons  are 
heard  either  as  speaking  or  as  spoken  to,  as  in  Ps.  ii.  and  ex.,  and 
in  Is.  vi.  The  full  force  of  certain  quotations  or  allusions  in  the 
New  Testament  will  then  be  felt ;  and  the  identity  of  Christ  with 
the  God  of  the  Old  Testament  will  be  clearly  proven. 

Elohim  is  the  general  name  of  God  as  God.  By  it  He  is  rela-^ 
ted  to  Creation  and  Providence.  It  is  the  plural  of  El  which  ra- 
dically signifies  force  or  strength.  El  as  a  name  of  God  is  often 
used  in  poetry,  and  elsewhere  usually  with  an  adjective  or  epithet.. 
The  plural  form  suggests  a  fulness  of  powers,  though  scholars 
differ  as  to  its  origin  and  import.  Kindred  to  these  two  names, 
are  two  more  Eloah  and  Elah,  the  latter  being  Chaldee,  and  all 
these  are  translated  by  the  one  name  God. 

The  name  Jehovah  is  explained  in  Ex.  iii.  13-15,  vi.  1-8,  Rev.  i. 
4.  Jehovah  is  God  as  the  eternal  unchanging  One.  His  special 
relations  under  this  name  are  to  grace  and  redemption.  He  is 
the  God  who  promises  and  covenants.  Being  the  everlasting 
God  He  will  keep  the  everlasting  covenant,  no  matter  how  many 
centuries  of  seeming  forgetfulness  and  delay,  or  apparent  impossi- 
bilities come  between  the  promise  and  the  fulfilment. 

As  Jehovah  He  is  the  God  of  Israel. 

"  Jehovah  is  thy  Elohim." 

Jah  is  a  contraction  of  Jehovah. 

The  name  Adonai  or  Adon  signifies  Lord,  Master,  Owner.. 
Adon  is  rarely  used  for  God  and  is  applied  generally  to  men.  Un- 
der the  name  Adonai,  God  is  related  to  His  people  as  one  who 
owns  and  disposes,  judges  and  delivers,  rebukes  and  helps,  and 
all,  it  might  be  said,  because  they  are  His  possession  through 
redemption. 

This  name  is  peculiarly  illustrated  by  what  Jesus  has  done  for 
and  is  to  the  Church  as  His  Body,  His  Bride,  His  Servants,  His 
House,  His  Own.  He  has  all  power  and  is  Head  over  all  things 
to  the  Church,  and  He  is  the  Saviour  of  the  body.  In  brief.  He 
is  "our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  On  comparing  Ps.  ex.  i  with  Rev^ 
iii.  21  ;  and  Isa.  vi.  i  with  John  xii.  41,  and  on  reading  what  fol- 
lows in  that  psalm  and  in  that  prophecy,  it  is  evident  that  Jesus 
is  the  Adonai,  and   as  the  Adonai  He  is  addressed  by  the  name 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  Jl 

fehvovah,  and  Jehovah  is  the  Elohim.  Exod.  xxxiv.  23.  Amos 
V.  16. 

The  following  is  the  help  to  recognize  each  name : 

LORD -^Jehovah.      Lord=Adonai  or  Adon. 

GOD— Jehovah.     God=Elohim,  Eloah,  El,  &c. 

Lord  GOD=^Adonai  Jehovah. 

Lord  GOD  the  God  of  Israel — 

The  Adon,  Jehovah  Elohim  of  Israel.  Ex.  xxxiv.  23. 

"  Trust  ye  in  Jehovah  forever,  for  in  J  ah  Jehovah  is  a  rock  of 
ages."     Is.  xxvi.  4.  W.  J.  E. 


A  HOUSE  OF  MANY  MANSIONS. 

RE7.    A.    N.    SOMERVILLE. 


The  Bible  may  oe  compared  to  a  magnificent  edifice  that  tooK 
sixteen  centuries  to  build.  Its  architect  and  builder  is  God. 
Like  the  beautiful  world,  the  work  of  the  same  author,  it  bears  on 
it  everywhere  the  impress  of  a  hand  divine.  The  majestic  tem- 
ple contains  sixty-six  chambers,  capacious,  yet  in  size  unequal, — 
the  sixty-six  books  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments.  Each  of  its 
thirty-one  thousand  one  hundred  and  seventy-three  verses  is  a 
stone,  a  beam,  a  panel  of  the  building,  which  is  a  temple  more 
glorious  far  than  that  of  Solomon  or  of  Zerubbabel,  with  their 
hewn  stones  from  Lebanon,  their  pillars  of  cedar,  their  doors  of 
olive,  their  floors,  walls  and  ceiling  overlaid  with  fine  gold  of 
Parodim,  their  holy  places,  their  courts,  their  porticos,  and  gates. 
No  portion  of  this  wonderful  structure  will  the  Lord  suffer  to  be 
mutilated  or  defiled. 

Within  the  sacred  enclosure  dwells  the  whole  family  of  God  on 
earth.  The  Bible  is  the  home  of  the  redeemed  below.  When 
the  Lord  Jesus  was  departing  from  the  world,  He  said,  "  In  My 
Father's  house  are  many  mansions ;  if  it  were  not  so  I  would 
have  told  you.  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you."  That  house  is 
the  temple  in  heaven  above,  whence  the  entrant  shall  go  no  more 
out,  and  where  Christ's  friends  abide  as  priests  to  God  for  ever- 
more. But  the  Bible  is  the  "  house  of  many  mansions"  prepared 
tor  Jesus'  disciples  on  earth.  Here  they  have  their  residence  ; 
here  they  are  fed ;  here  they  are  strengthened,  comforted  and 
blessed  ;  here  they  are  nurtured  for  immortality. 

The  Bible  is  not  merely  the  dwelling-place  of  God's  people,  it 
is  the  chosen  abode  of  God  Himself.  Would  you  have  fellow- 
ship with  the  Father  ?  you  will  be  sure  to  find  Him  within  the 
precincts  of  this  holy  house.  Shall  we  take  advantage  of  the 
King's  permission  and  step  inside  ?  We  approach  by  the  beauti- 
ful garden  of  Eden,  with  its  innocent  flowers,  its  groves  and  lucid 
streams.  The  first  part  of  the  building,  that  of  highest  antiquity, 
bears  the  name  of  the  Chambers  of  Law  and  Justice.     These  are 


72  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

five  in  number,  the  books  of  Moses.  One  of  these,  is  a  sort  oi 
vestibule  to  the  others,  and  resembles  a  long  gallery  hung  with 
portraits  and  pictorial  scenes  of  surpassing  interest,  mementos  ol 
persons  and  events  that  had  place  before  a  stone  of  the  building 
was  laid — such  figures  as  those  of  Abel  and  Enoch,  Noah,  Abra- 
ham, Hagar^  Sarah,  Jacob,  Esau,  and  Joseph,  and  such  scenes  as 
Paradise  and  the  Flood,  the  Departure  from  Ur  of  the  Chaldees, 
the  Tent-door  at  Mamre,  the  Flaming  Cities  of  the  Plain,  the  Of- 
fering of  Isaac,  Rebecca  at  the  Well,  and  the  Governor  of  Egypt, 
weeping  on  the  neck  of  his  Brethren.  Thence  we  pass  through 
an  extensive  range  of  imposing  apartments,  the  Chambers  of  His- 
toric Record.  These  comprise  the  library  of  the  edifice,  and  in 
them  are  laid  up  the  Church's  archives  for  more  than  a  thousand 
years.  These  rooms  are  twelve  in  number,  and  stretch  from 
Joshua  to  Esther.  Then  we  come  to  a  wide  space  called  the 
gymnasium  of  the  building,  or  the  saints  exercising  ground,  the 
Book  of  Job.  Entering  right  of  this,  we  find  ourselves  in  the  Mu- 
sic Gallery  of  the  Psalms,  the  orchestra  of  the  house,  where  dwell 
all  the  sons  and  daughters  of  song,  with  cymbal,  trumpet,  psal- 
tery and  harp.  Issuing  thence  we  pass  at  once  into  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  the  Book  ol  Proverbs  ;  not  far  from  which  is  the 
Penitentiary  of  the  place,  where  sorrowful  bankrupts  and  other 
defaulters  may  remain  for  a  time  with  profit — the  Book  of  Eccle- 
siastes.  A  little  further  on,  we  open  into  a  tiny  parlor  in  the 
midst  of  larger  rooms — the  chamber  of  sympathy  with  mourners 
— the  Book  of  Lamentations.  Interspersed  among  all  these,  the 
eye  is  regaled  with  such  delightful  conservatories  of  flowers  as 
the  books  of  Ruth  and  of  the  Song  of  Solomon.  And,  next,  we 
come  to  a  noble  suit  of  lofty  apartments,  some  of'  which  are  of 
great  capacity  and  are  laid  out  with  extraordinary  splendor,  no 
less  than  seventeen  in  number.  These  are  the  Halls  of  Ancient 
Prophecy,  and  follow  in  grand  succession  from  Isaiah  to 
Malachi. 

Thence  we  pass  to  the  portion  of  the  edifice  of  more  modern 
construction,  and  we  enter  four  spacious  chambers  of  peculiar 
beauty.  These  are  of  marble  far  fairer  than  e'er  was  taken  from 
the  quarries  of  Paros,  Pentelicus,  or  Carara  ;  chambers,  of  which 
one  does  not  know  to  admire  more  the  simplicity  or  exquisite 
finish.  At  once  the  walls  arrest  us.  On  them  we  see  not  golden 
reliefs  of  palm-trees,  lilies,  pomegranates,  and  cherubim  ;  but  four 
full-length  portraits  of  the  Lord  of  the  building  Himself,  drawn  by 
the  Holy  Spirit's  inimitable  hand.  These  are  the  Books  of  the 
Four  Evangelists.  Stepping  onward,  our  ears  are  saluted  by  the 
loud  sounds  of  machinery  in  motion  ;  and  entering  a  long  apart- 
ment, we  find  ourselves  face  to  face  with  wheels  and  shafts  and 
cranks  and  pinions,  whose  motive  power  is  above  and  out  of  sight, 
and  which  will  bring  on  changes  all  the  world  over.  This  is  the 
Chamber  of  Celestial  Mechanics — the  great  workroom  of  the  build- 
ing— the  Book  of  Acts.  Leaving  it  we  are  conducted  into  the 
stately  Halls  of  the  Apostolic  Epistles,  no  fewer  than  twenty-one 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


73 


in  range.  The  golden  doors  of  fourteen  of  these  are  inscribed 
with  the  honorable  name  of  the  Apostle  to  the  Gentiles,  those  of 
the  seven  others  with  the  names  of  James  and  Peter  and  John  and 
Jude.  Within  these  halls  the  choicest  treasures  of  the  Lord  are 
stored. 

And  last  of  all  we  arrive  at  that  mysterious  gallery  where  brilli- 
ant lights  and  dark  shadows  so  curiously  interchange,  and  where 
in  sublime  emblems,  the  history  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  is  unveiled 
till  the  Bridegroom  come — the  grand  Apocalypse.  And  now  we 
have  reached  the  utmost  extremity  of  the  building.  Let  us  step 
out  on  the  protecting  balcony  and  look  abroad. 

Yonder,  beneath  us,  is  a  fair  meadow,  through  which  the  pure 
Kiver  of  the  Water  of  Life  is  winding  its  way  ;  on  either  side  of 
which  stands  the  Tree  of  Life,  with  its  twelve  manner  of  fruits  and 
its  beautiful  leaves  for  the  healing  of  ithe  nations.  And  in  the 
distance,  high  on  the  summit  of  the  everlasting  hills,  the  city,  all 
of  gold,  bathed  in  light  and  quivering  with  glory — the  new  Jeru- 
salem ;  its  walls  of  jasper,  its  foundations  of  precious  stones,  its 
angel-guarded  gates  of  pearl ;  the  city  that  needs  no  sun,  no  moon, 
*'  for  the  glory  of  the  Lord  doth  lighten  it,  and  the  Lamb  is  the 
light  thereof!" 

Oh  !  let  us  make  this  beloved  house  our  home.  Let  us  make 
haste,  with  our  little  children  in  either  hand  and  with  all  our  kin- 
dred at  our  back,  to  enter  its  portal.  But  of  one  thing  make  sure ; 
see  that  you  ask  and  obtain  the  great  Interpreter,  who  waits  at 
the  gate.  Himself  to  lead  you  in  anr^  ^ike  you  all  over  the  building. 
Say  to  Him  whose  name  is  the  Cumforter,  the  Spirit  of  Truth, 
reverently  and  with  faith,  "  Lord,  open  Thou  mine  eyes,  that  I 
may  behold  wondrous  things  out  of  Thy  law  ;"  and,  oh !  let  it  be 
yours  also  to  seek  that  the  millions  of  India,  China,  of  dark  Africa, 
and  all  America,  parents  and  little  children  alike,  and  every 
islander  of  the  sea,  may  enjoy  the  advantages  that  you  possess  ;. 
that  they  may  have  their  home  with  you  in  this  *'  house  of  many 
mansions,"  provided  for  the  faint  and  weary  here  till  they  have  a 
place  with  you  hereafter  in  the  ^ther's  house  above. 


BIBLE  READING. 


BY    REV.   J.    H.    VINCENT,    D.D. 


Bible  Reading  in  Public — i.  The  Church  should  place  a 
higher  estimate  upon  the  public  reading  of  God's  word.  It  should 
be  considered  a  part  of  divine  worship.  Well  trained  and  res- 
pectful people  never  enter  church  during  the  "prayer."  Why 
should  they  have  less  reverence  for  the  reading  of  God's  word  ? 

2.  The  pews  should  always  be  supplied  with  Bibles',  that  the 
people  may  follow  the  minister  when  he  reads  or  join  with  him 
in  responsive  reading.     ♦ 

3.  The  minister  should  read  with  great  distinctness  and  impres- 


74  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

siveness,  that  the  whole  congregation  may  understand  and  be  in- 
terested. 

4.  A  brief  invocation  at  the  opening  of  the  Bible  might  produce 
a  salutary  impression  upon  the  congregation. 

5.  In  responsive  reading  it  is  not  necessary  that  ttie  congrega- 
tion should  read  in  perfect  harmony.  Let  each  individual  read 
aloud  for  himself  and  fix  his  mind  on  what  he  reads.  Exact  har- 
mony is  not  a  necessity,  and  there  is  danger  of  losing  the  senti- 
ment in  one's  sohcitude  to  *'  keep  with  the  rest." 

True  Methods  of  Associated  Bible  Reading. — i.  Read  the- 
Bible  in  the  family.  Hold  "family  worship."  Have  a  large 
Bible.  Read  consecutively,  or  topically,  or  in  connection  with 
the  current  Sunday-school  lesson.  Read  responsively.  Give 
every  member  of  the  family  a  Bible  to  use  at  this  service. 

2.  Study  the  Bible  in  the  family.  Hold  a  little  home  schcx)! 
every  Sabbath.  The  mother  and  the  little  ones  with  a  good  series 
of  Bible  pictures,  the  father  and  the  larger  children  with  some 
special  theme  to  be  examined — these  form  beautiful  domestic 
pictures,  and  the  work  accomplished  is  immortal. 

3.  Let  those  members  of  the  household  upon  whom  responsihi-^ 
lity  rests  the  most  heavily  unite  in  searching  the  Bible  as  a  means 
of  special  grace.  A  husband  and  his  wife  spent  an  hour  in  col- 
lecting from  a  single  book  in  the  New  Testament — one  of  the 
epistles — every  phrase  or  statement  which  indicated  the  possibil- 
ities of  religious  experience.  The  time  passed  by  swiftly,  and. 
when  they  kneeled  together  to  ask  of  God  the  blessing  of  which 
they  had  been  reading  there  came  upon  them  a  baptism  ot 
power.  What  a  saving  of ''  wear  and  tear"  in  every  day  life,  what, 
conciliatory  temper,  what  patience,  what  forbearance,  what  do- 
mestic love  and  peace  might  thus  be  won  from  the  Spirit  by 
means  of  the  word  of  God. 

4.  Use  the  Bible  in  the  prayer. meeting  and  in  the  class-meeting. 
Look  less  at  self  and  more  at  Christ  as  he  is  revealed  in  his  word- 
Forget  self  and  remember  Him.  Forget  the  past  and  look  at  the 
glorious  promises  and  possibilities  which  shine  out  of  the  Scrip- 
tures. Thus,  as  the  people  of  God  muse  on  the  truth,  the  fire 
will  burn.  The  open  Bible  is  to-day  one  of  the  great  needs  of  the 
social  meetings  of  the  Church. 

5.  A  concerted  scheme  for  Bible  reading  in  a  whole  Church  may 
be  prepared  and  urged  by  the  pastor.  The  pulpit,  the  prayer- 
meeting,  the  family  altar,  the  closet,  the  Sunday-school,  and  the 
special  Bible  reading  meetings,  may  be  united  in  a  plan  for  read- 
ing certain  portions  of  the  great  book  during  the  year.  This  co- 
operation will  inspire  many  to  enter  upon  the  service  and  to  con- 
tinue in  it. 

6.  As  frequently  as  possible  turn  the  tide  of  casual  conversation 
into  scripture  currents.  Where  "  two  or  three  are  gathered  to-^ 
gether"  by  circumstances,  easily  and  without  violence  lead  them 
toward  the  word,  and  let  the  meeting  be  "-in  His  name."     Thus 

:  our  "  speech  be  with  grace,  seasoned  with  salt,"  and  our  "  con- 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  75 

versation,"  in  the  accepted  use  of  that  term,  be  *'  in  heaven." 
7.  Introduce  Bible  readings,  as  widely  as  possible : — 
(i.)  Parlor  Bible  readings,  where  friends  meet  by  special  invita- 
tion to  spend  an  hour  or   two  in  the  study  of  some   special  Bible 
chapter,  book,  or  topic. 

(2.)  Church  Bible  readings  where  in  large  numbers  believers  come- 
together  to  look  at  Christ  in  his  own  word.  The  Chautauqua 
"  Eventide  Conferences  "  are  of  this  character. 

The  Bible  classes  of  the  Sunday-school  may  frequently  resolve 
themselves  into  meetings  for  Bible  readings  in  the  line  of  the  day's 
lesson,  thus  promoting  spiritual  results,  and  substituting  edifica- 
tion for  discussion  and  controversy. 

Bible  Readings. — There  are  many  forms  which  this  delightful 
service  of  the  modern  Church  may  take.  Let  me  indicate  a  few 
of  them  : 

1.  Expository  Bible  readings.  The  minister  often  gives  these 
in  his  reading  of  the  regular  Bible  "  lesson"  for  the  morning.  The 
same  plan  may  be  followed  at  the  "  Bible  reading"  on  a  week 
evening,  whether  conducted  by  minister  or  layman.  The  gift  of 
exposition  should  be  cultivated  by  all  the  people.  These  exposi- 
tory readings  may  take  the  form  of  a  conversation,  a  verse  being; 
read,  and  opportunity  given- to  all  to  make  remarks  upon  it. 

2.  Elliptical  or  mutual  readings.  Let  all  sit  down  with  open> 
Bibles.  One  of  the  company  asks  a  question,  to  which  the  rest 
give  answer  by  simply  reading  the  verse  or  a  portion  of  the  verse. 
This  resolves  itself  into  an  elliptical  reading,  and  not  by  any  means, 
a  drill  or  recitation. 

For  example,  we  take  up  Paul's  letter  to  the  Philippians  at  the 
first  chapter.  All  have  Testaments  open,  and  the  reading  goes, 
on  much  in  the  following  way  : — 

Leader^  Two  persons  are  here  named — 

Class.  Paul  and  Timotheus. 

Leader.  They  are  called — 

Class.  The  servants  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Leader.  Paul  and  Timotheus  address  this  letter— 

Class.  To  saints. 

Leader.  To  what  saints  ? 

Class.  All  the  saints  in  Christ  which  are  at  Philippi. 

Leader.  What  officers  among  the  saints  are  here  mentioned  T 

Class.  Bishops  and  Deacons. 

Leader.  What  two  things  does  Paul  invoke  upon  them  ? 

Class.  Grace  be  unto  you,  and  peace. 

Leader.  From  whom  come  grace  and  peace  ? 

Class.  From  God  our  Father,  and  from  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.^ 

Now,  without  degenerating  into  discussion,  and  without  any 
speeches  at  all,  definitions  may  be  given  of  the  words  "  servants," 
"  saints,"  *'  bishops,"  "  deacons,"  "  Philippi"  may  be  located,  and 
all  this  will  require  but  a  little  time,  and  it  is  little  more  than  an 
elliptical  or  interrogative  reading  :  but  the  attention  of  everybody  ' 
is  held,  and  a  whole  book  may  be  read  in  this  manner  to  the  profit 
of  all.     This  is  the  sirnn'^^ct  form  of  Bible  reading. 


Jb  NOTES    FOR    Biiil-Ji    KiiADiiNuo. 

^.  Random  readings.  Gather  texts.  Read  at  random.  Pickup 
a  verse  here  and  a  verse  there  in  the  Bible  and  a  third  farther  on 
as  you  wander  through  these  wide  fields  of  history,  and  poetiy, 
and  doctrine.  Gather  flowers  of  instruction  and  promise,  until 
you  will  form  a  boquet  such  as  you  collect  in  the  fields  on  a  morn- 
ing's walk — fresh  and  fragrant.  This  plan  is  very  simple,  and 
never  fails  to  gratify  and  profit. 

4.  Topical  readings.     Select   a   theme — a   word,    a   doctrine — 

-and  bring  everything   to  be   found  in    Scripture   to  bear  upon  it. 

Use  the  "  Concordance"  freely.  Use  a  good  "  Bible  Index."  Study 

the  marginal  references.     Consult  the  texts   employed   in  a  good 

•''  Cyclopedia" — such,   for   example,  as    M'Clintock  and  Strong's. 

Explore  particular  chapters  and  books  of  the  Bible  for  yourself 
upon  it.  Have  these  passages  classified  according  to  a  good 
analysis  of  the  subject,  which  you  may  make  for  yourself;  (i.)  The 
topic  defined  in  Scripture  ;  (2.)  The  topic  proved  in  Scripture  ;  (3.) 
The  topic  commended  or  insisted  upon  ;  (4.)  The  topic  illustrated ; 
(5.)  The  topic  harmonized  with  other  themes.  Let  the  various 
texts  be  indicated  on  slips  of  paper,  to  be  distributed  among  those 
who  will  read  distinctly  and  loud  enough  to  be  heard  by  every 
body.  Having  written  such  text  slips,  verify  them  to  see  that  no 
blunders  occur  when  they  come  to  be  read. 

I  have  spoken  above  of  the  personal  exploration  of  the  Bi'ilefor 
proof  texts.  This  is  better  than  to  depend  upon  Concordances 
and  Indexes.  A  Sunday-school  class  or  a  company  ot  friends 
may  agree  to  divide  the  books  of  the  Bible  among  themselves 
and  explore  them  for  passages  upon  specified  topics.  A  com- 
plete analysis  of  every  book  in  the  Bible  is  thus  possible. 

5.  Comparative  Bible  readings.  Take  the  account  of  a  miracle, 
for  example.  Dividing  the  meeting  into  sections,  let  each  section 
open  one  of  the  evangelists,  and  as  the  successive  unfoldings  of 
tJhe  miracle  are  named  see  what  statement  the  several  writers 
make  concerning  it.  Do  the  same  with  parables.  In  the  same 
way  compare  Daniel  and  Paul,  Paul  and  James,  Moses  and  David, 
€tc.,  in  reference  to  great  doctrinal  and  practical  teachings. 

6.  Memory  Bible  readings.  The  word  should  be  hidden  in  the 
heart.  It  is  a  wholesome  exercise  to  recall  texts  which  have  been 
already  committed  to  memory.  "  Promise  meetings"  are  common. 
A  promise  is  quoted,  then  another,  and  another.  This  plan  may 
be  carried  further.  We  may  apply  it  to  Bible  topics — the  "  work 
of  the  Spirit,"  the  *'  pardon  of  sin,"  the  "  fruits  of  faith,"  etc.,  etc. 
It  is  desirable  in  all  such  memory  readings  to  be  accurate,  there- 
fore any  mistakes  in  quotation  should  be  at  once  corrected,  kindly 
but  faithfully.  Many  so  called  "  familiar  texts"  are  usually  mis- 
quoted. We  should  seek  accuracy  in  using  the  words  of  God. 
**  Promise  meetings"  should  be  held  for  collecting  promises  under 
■special  heads,  that  is,  promises  of  God  to  the  penitent ;  to  the 
tempted  ;  to  the  poor  ;  to  the  faithful :  to  the  self-sacrificing  ;  to 
those  who  win  souls,  etc.,  etc. 

7.  Polyglot  Bible  readings.    Language  is  the  medium  of  thought. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


77 


Ilnman  language  is  the  medium  of  divine  thought.  God  adapts 
J.  mseli  to  our  infirmities,  and  has  put  his  great  thoughts  into  the 
Irail  medium  of  human  speech,  and  adapting  these  thoughts  to 
many  nations,  he  has  employed  different  languages,  and  made  it 
possible  for  men,  as  they  need  it,  to  translate  from  tongue  to 
tongue  this  precious  revelation.  The  Bible  was  given  in  Hebrew, 
in  Chaldee,  in  Greek.  It  has  since  been  translated  into  more 
than  one  hundred  and  fifty  languages  and  dialects.  In  this  effort 
to  convey  divine  thought  to  the  human  understanding,all  languages 
liave  been  carefully  and  critically  studied.  We  know  that  in  one 
language  shades  of  meaning  are  detected  which  others  faiil  to  give, 
and  it  is  not  only  curious,  but  profitable  to  trace  the  varying  in- 
terpretation in  several  translations,  which,  without  affecting  the 
radical  sense,  give  most  beautiful  and  valuable  shades  of  thought. 
Therefore,  for  a  profitable  Bible  reading,  let  as  many  versions  be 
brought  together  as  possible,  and  let  them  be  carefully  examined. 
Take  five  verses  for  example,  and  collect  several  English  versions. 
Then  read  the  same  in  Spanish,  the  French,  the  Italian,  the 
Modern  Syriac,  etc.,  etc.  Thus  the  linguistic  ability  of  a  community 
may  be  utilized  in  the  study  of  God's  word. 

8.  Bible  Experience  Meetings.  Personal  experience  may 
furnish  some  illustration  or  exposition  of  a  passage.  Every  life 
has  its  own  interpretations  of  the  divine  word.  Every  soul  has- 
had  scyne  experience  in  which  a  text  of  Scripture  has  found  a  sol- 
vent. Some  verse  has  come  with  peculiar  power  at  a  particular 
time  in  a  human  life.  A  lady  told  me  that  on  one  occasion  when 
crossing  the  plains — long  before  the  railroad  was  built — the  whole 
company  was  in  danger  from  hostile  Indians  ;  when  night  came 
the  emigrants  were  forbidden  to  have  any  light  in  the  encampment. 
In  her  waggon  tent,  (as  it  always  had  been  her  custom  to  read  a 
verse  of  Scripture  before  retiring,.)  after  having  opened  her  Bible^ 
she  hurriedly  lighted  a  match,  and  her  eye  rested  upon  this  text : 
"  The  angel  of  the  Lord  encampeth  round  about  them  that  fear 
Him,  and  delivereth  them."  She  said,  "  This  text  always  meant 
more  to  me  after  that,  for  I  read  it,  and  lay  down  without  fear  or 
danger,  and  slept  as  sweetly  as  a  child  throughout  the  night." 
Let  these  readings  of  the  word  in  the  light  of  the  soul's  experience 
find  a  place  in  the  social  circle.  By  this  means  the  Church  class- 
meeting  becomes  a  source  of  instruction.  Said  good  Father 
Reeves,  '*  the  model  class-leader"  of  England :  "  Give  your  ex- 
perience in  Bible  language." 

In  Bible  readings  it  may  be  well,  occasionally,  to  use  the  black- 
board, or  to  prepare  a  scheme  by  means  of  the  papyrograph 
process  for  distribution.  On  this  scheme,  appropriate  verses  of 
hymns  may  be  distributed  to  be  sung  during  the  service. 


78  NOTES   FOR   BIBLE    READINGS, 


BIBLE  STUDY. 


As  much  attention  has  lately  been  drawn  to  the  subject  of  Bible 
reading  and  marking,  may  I  submit  to  your  readers  one  or  two 
thoughts  on  the  matter  ?  I  used  to  pick  and  choose  what  I  thought 
\were  nice  bits,  but  somehow  I  did  not  seem  to  profit  much  and 
ithen  there  was  the  danger  of  attaining  one-sided  views  of  truth. 
I  was,  thank  God,  led  to  see  this,  and  have  for  some  time  in  read- 
ing tried  to  grasp  the  scope  and  purpose  of  the  various  books  of 
the  Bible ;  and  in  reading  the  Epistles,  to  watch  and  keep  in 
mind  the  line  of  argument  adopted  by  the  writers. 

It  is  only  lately  that  I  have  finished  reading  the  Epistles  of 
Paul  to  the  Ephesians  and  Hebrews.     I  read  them  consecutively, 
and  they  seemed  under  God  to  open  up  in  a  manner  I  never 
realized  before.     Permit  me  to  give  you  a  skeleton  of  each  ; — 
Ephesians. — Keyword,  "  /«." 

Our  position  ^^  in  ChnsV'=Ssiiety.     (i.  ii.) 

Our  possession,  *'  Christ  in  us"=Power  (for)  (iii.) 

"  Walking,''  and  "  Standing.''    (iv.  vi.) 

Paul  knew  it  was  no  use  to  tell  the  poor  weak  one  to  walk  with- 
out showing  him  first  the  full  meaning  of  "  Abide  in  Me,  and  I  in 
you,"  and  "  He  that  abideth  in  Me,  and  I  in  him,  the  same  bringeth 
forth  much  fruit."  It  is  no  use  to  tell  the  poor  trembling  one  to 
quench  all  the  fiery  darts  without  showing  him  in  whom  he  has 
to  be  strong,  and  what  armour  he  has  to  be  clothed  in. 
Hebrews. — Keyword,  "  Better.". 

The  Person  of  Christ,     (i.  vii.) 

Christ  as  Son  of  God,  and  much  better  than  angels,     (i.) 

Christ,  although  better,  yet  made  for  a  little  while  lower,  than 
they,  as  Son  of  Man.  (ii.) 

Christ  better  than  Moses,  as  a  son  is  than  a  servant,  (iii.) 

Christ  better  than  Joshua,  (iv.) 

Christ's  Priesthood  shown  as  better  than  the  Levitical.    (v.) 

Christ  better  than  Aaron,   (vii.) 

New  covenant  better  than  the  old.  (viii.) 

Christ's  work  better  than  that  done  under  the  old  covenant. 
(ix  ,  X.) 

Faith  and  its  fruits,  (xi.) 

Exhortation,  (xii.) 

Note  the  twelve  "  Let  us"  and  the  seven  **  once"  (ix.,  x.)  in  this 
glorious  epistle.  May  God  bless  his  own  Word ;  and  He  will 
when  we  read  it  as  He  gives  it.  F.  G.,  20th  Hussars. 


^«WAi^d       V\J^\.      iJi^^Xt       X\4jAWA«\\i«k4< 


/^ 


BIBLE  STUDY. 


The  man  who  first  seeks  Divine  guidance  will  not  undervalue 
subsequent  careful  and  critical  study.  The  Holy  Spirit  blesses 
the  industrious,  not  the  slothful  man.  He  guides  in  study,  not  in 
the  neglect  of  study.  But  the  guidance  should  be  asked  for  at  the 
start,  not  expected  as  a  matter  of  course  by  him  who  fails  to  re- 
quest it.  The  assurance  is  that  our  Heavenly  Father  will  "  give 
the  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask  Him."  *'  For  every  one  that 
asketh  receiveth  ;  and  he  that  seeketh  findeth ;  and  to  him  that 
knocketh  it  shall  be  opened."  Not  until  a  man  has  asked  and 
received  the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Ghost  is  he  ready  to  begin  the 
study  of  a  passage  of  Scripture  which  he  is  set  to  teach.  Then 
he  may  examine  the  Word  itself.  Afterwards  he  may  safely  con- 
sult the  best  human  helps  to  its  understanding  and  applications." 
God  best  understands  His  own  Word.  He  is  first  to  be  looked  to 
to  make  it  clear  to  him  who  would  teach  it  to  others. — S.S.TiHias. 


KEY  NOTES  TO  THE  BOOKS  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


OLD   TESTAMENT. 

1.  Genesis.     The  book  of  the  beginnings. 

2.  Exodus.     The  book  of  redemption — types. 

3.  Leviticus.     The  book  of  sacrifice  and  priesthood. 

4.  Numbers.     The  book  of  wilderness  walk. 

5.  Deuteronomy.     The  book  of  conduct  for  Canaan. 

6.  Joshua.     The  book  of  warfare  in  Canaan. 

7.  Judges.     The  book  of  failure  in  Canaan. 

8.  Ruth.     The  book  of  typical  prophecy. 

g.  I  Samuel.     The  book  of  royal  government  in  the  hands  of 
Saul.' 

10.  2  Samuel.     The  book  of  royal  government  in  the  hands  of 
David. 

11.  I  Kings.     The   book  of  royal  government  in  the  hands  of 
Solomon  and  successors. 

12.  2  Kings.     The  book  of  royal  government  in  its  decline. 

13.  I  Chronicles.      The  book  of  God's  earthly  elect  connected 
with  the  Throne  and  the  Ark. 

14.  2  Chronicles.     The  book  of  God's   earthly   government  in 
the  house  of  David. 

15.  Ezra.     The  book  of  ecclesiastical   history  upon  the  return 
:from  Babylon, 

16.  Nehemiah.    The  book  of  civil  condition,  upon   the  return 
"from  Babylon. 


8o  NOTES    FOK    BIBLE    READINGS. 

17.  Esther.  ThebookofGod's  secret  government  towards  Israel. 

18.  Job.     The  book  of  individual   discipline  for  the  learning  of 
self. 

19.  Psalms.     The  book  of  experimental  holy  song. 

20.  Proverbs.     The  book  of  wisdom  for  the  world. 

21.  Ecclesiastes.     The  book  of  one  who  found  the  world  too 
small  for  his  heart. 

22.  Canticles.     The  book  of  one  who  found  the  object  too  great 
for  his  heart. 

23.  Isaiah.       The    book  of  comprehensive    and    magnificient 
prophecy. 

24."  Jeremiah.     The  book  of  judgment  upon  Judah,  nations,  and 
latter-day  blessing. 

25.  Lamentations.    The  book  of  godly  feelings  in  view  of  Israel's 
sorrows. 

26.  Ezekiel.     The  book  of  judgment  upon  Israel  and  connected 
nations  with  future  blessing  of  Israel. 

27.  Daniel.     The  book  of  Gentile  political  history. 

28.  Hosea.  The  book  of  Israel's  moral  condition — past,  present, 
and  future. 

29.  Joel.     The   book   of   universal  judgment    and    latter-day 
blessing  for  Judah. 

30.  Amos.     The  book  of  certain  judgment  upon  the  Gentiles 
and  all  Israel,  with  future  restoration  of  the  latter. 

31.  Obadiah.     The  book  of  judgment  Upon  Edom. 

32.  Jonah.      The  book   of  judgment  upon   Nineveh,   and  its 
repentance. 

33.  Micah.      The   book  of  iudgment  and   future   blessing  oi 
Jerusalem  and  Samaria. 

34.  Nahum.     The  book  of  utter  judgment  upon  proud  Assyria. 

35.  Habakkuk.     The  book  of  Jewish  spiritual  exercise. 

36.  Zephaniah.     The  book  of  unsparing  judgment  and  blessing 
upon  the  remnant  of  Israel. 

37.  Haggai.  The  book  of  encouragement  in  rebuilding  the  Temple. 

38.  Zechariah.     The  book  of    "the  last  days"  connected    with 
Israel. 

39.  Malachi.     The  book  of  Jehovah's  last  pleadings  with  Israel. 

To  understand  the  Old  Testament,  consider  Christ  and  Israel  as 
\,\e  centre  and  key. 


NEW   TESTAMENT. 

40.  Matthew.      Christ,  Son  of  Abraham,  and  David's  Son  and 
Lord  according  to  promise. 

41.  Mark.     Christ  the  servant  of  His  Father,  and  meeter  of 
man's  need. 

42.  Luke.     Christ  the  Son  of  Man  in  His  service  amongst  men, 

43.  John.     Christ  the  Son  of  God  in  the  moral  glory  of  His 
person  and  ways. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  8l 

44.  Acts.     Christ  in  heaven,  and  the  energy  of  the  IJoly  Ghost 
on   earth. 

45.  Romans.     Christianity  unfolded. 

46.  I  Corinthians.     Church  order  and  discipline. 

47.  2  Corinthians.      Christian  ministry  and  superiority  over  all 
circumstances. 

48.  Galatians.    Christian  blessing  contrasted  with  law. 

49.  Ephesians.      Christ  the  measure  of  Christian  standing  and 
blessing. 

50.  Philippians.     Christian  experience. 

51.  Colossians.     Christ  and  his  glories — the  Church's  Head. 

52.  I  Thessalonians.     Christ's  coming  for  the  eternal  blessedness 
of  His  people. 

53.  2  Thessalonians.     Christ's  coming  for  the  eternal  judgment 
of  unbelievers. 

54.  I  Timothy.     Church  order  according  to  God. 

55.  2  Timothy.     Church  disorder  and  the  individual  pathway. 

56.  Titus.     Christian    qualifications    for    ministry,    and    godly 
conduct. 

57.  Philemon.     Christian   love  counting    upon     love    between 
brother  and  brother. 

58.  Hebrews.    Christ  the  Apostle,  Sacrifice,  Priest,  and  Witness. 

59.  James.     Christian  morality  in  and  out  of  the  Church  and 
Synagogue. 

60.  I  Peter.      God's  righteous  government  in  relation  to  the 
saints. 

61.  2  Peter.       God's   judgment    upon     the    public    Christian 
profession. 

62.  I  John.     Christ   the   eternal   life  and  power  of  communion 
with  God. 

63.  2  John.     Christ  and  the  truth  the  safeguard  against  heresy. 
— International  Lesson   Monthly. 


THE   TRUE   SPIRIT   OF   BIBLE   STUDY. 


1.  The  spirit  of  implicit  y^;*//^,  recognizing  it  as  the  word  of  God^ 
who  is  himself  the  truth. 

2.  The  spirit  of  self-appropriation,  accepting  it  as  the  word  of 
God  to  ME.  He  speaks  to  each  soul  in  the  Bible  as  though  that 
soul  were  alone  in  the  universe. 

3.  The  spirit-  of  cordial  assent  to  all  that  it  teaches,  whether  the 
truth  be  clear  or  •  obscure  to  the  understanding,  palatable  or 
unpalatable  to  the  moral  taste. 

4.  The  spirit  of  profound  reverence  for  the  book  and  its  contents, 
because  of  him  who  is  its  author,  substance  and  inspiration.  The 
holy  oil  in  the  Jewish  tabernacle  was  never  put  to  a  profane  use 
under  pain  of  death.  Exodus  xxx.  32,  33.  The  old  Jews  in  their 
private  houses  never  placed  another  book  upon,  the  Bible.  They 
washed  their  hands  before  touching  it.      They  refused  to  sit  on  the 

6 


82  NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 

bench  where  it  lay,  and  they  kissed  it  as  they  opened  and  closed  it. 
Shall  the  Christian  revere  less  his  larger  and  fuller  Bible,  with  its 
wealth  of  Gospel  truth  ? 

5.  The  spirit  of  prompt  and  perfect  obedience  to  all  that  it  com- 
mands ;  the  obedient  spirit  is  the  receptive  spirit.     Matt.  v.  8. 

6.  The  spirit  of  fervent  believing  prayer,  inspired  by  a  sense  of 
need.  As  we  open  the  word  we  should"  open  the  heart.  We  should 
pray  before  we  study.  We  should  turn  the  very  Scripture  we  read 
into  a  prayer.  Moses  prayed  when  the  ark  was  taken  up  or  set 
down.  Paul  prayed  when  he  opened,  and  when  he  closed  his 
epistles.  Since  the  Spirit  of  God  alorie  knoweth  the  deep  things 
of  God,  we  should  call  upon  God  for  his  light  when  we  look  into 
his  word. 

7.  The  spirit  of  patient  waiting  for  the  divine  spiritual  interpreta- 
tion. The  Spirit  of  God  moves  in  Scripture.  Words  which  mean 
little  to  the  carnal  mind  are  weighty  with  significance  to  him  who 
is  spiritually  enlightened.  Lines  which  are  dull  to  the  superficial 
and  worldly  student,  are  brilliant  to  the  persistent,  diligent,  and 
devout  student,  who,  on  bended  knee,  looks  into  the  mysteries  of 
the  word  under  the  illumination  of  the  Spirit.  We  never  know 
what  unfolding  of  truth  is  to  be  made  by  the  divine  Spirit. 
Therefore  we  should  ponder  long  and  patiently,  reading  as  the 
eunuch  read,  waiting  for  some  Philip  to  come  by  the  divine  order 
for  our  assistance. 

8.  The  spirit  of  delight  in  it,  as  the  divine  revelation  of  wisdom, 
love,  and  power  —  the  delight  which  comes  from  a  thirst,  a  taste,  a 
genius  for  it.  An  old  writer  says  :  ''As  a  bar  of  iron  by  long  lying 
in  the  fire  waxeth  red  hot,  so  that  soul  which  daily  employeth  itself 
in  reading  and  meditating  on  the  word  of  God,  groweth  to  be 
spiritual  and  divine,  and  is  kindled  in  a  fire  of  holy  devotion  and 
love  by  the  word  .of  God."     Let  the  word  be  precious  to  thy  soul. 

J.   H.  Vincent,  D.  D. 


■*N0TES^F0R^B1BLEMEADINGS4:- 


jcrrtr  ai  ^0!tr. 


FURNISHED  FOR  WORI. 

Text ;  I  Tim.  iv:  I2  to  i6. 

1.  Character  before  work. — 12th 
verse  :  "  Example  of  believers  in  Word, 
Life,  Love,  Spirit,  Truth,  Purity." 
Titus  i.  7  to  9  ;  ii.  ii  to  15  ;  i  Thes. 
iv.  I  ;  2  Cor,  vi.  3-4. 

2.  Reading,  as  in  13th  verse  2  Tim. 
iii,  15  to  17  ;  Rom,   xv.  4;    John  v.  39. 

3.  Following  Reading  (i.  e.  study 
drawing  from  the  Scriptures  for  ourselves, 
the  truth)  Then  exhortation  ;  the  ap- 
plication of  the  truth ;  Titus  i.  9  ;  Heb. 
iii.  13  ;  2  Thess.  iii.  12. 

4.  Doctrine. — Intelligent  exhorta- 
tion, based  upon  a  proper  reading,  will 
recognize  doctrine,  and  no  relation  of 
experience  is  profitable  that  is  not  in 
accord  with  sound  doctrine;  Rom.    vi: 

17  ;  2  Tim.  iv.  3  ;  Titus  ii.  7;  2  John  9; 
Acts  ii.  42. 

5.  Diligence. — 14th verse:  "Neglect 
not."  2  Tim.  iv.  2  and  5  ;  i  Thes.  i.  8; 
2  Cor.  xi.  26  ;  Eccl.  xi.  6. 

6.  Honor  the  Holy  Ghost. — 14th 
verse  :  '"  The  gift  that  is  in  thee,"  ''which 
was  given  thee."  i  Cor.  xii.  3;  Acts, 
xix.  2  and  6  ;  John  xiv.  16  and  17. 

7.  Consecration.  —  15th  verse  : 
**  Give  thyself  wholly  to  them."  Rom. 
xii.  I.     I  Cor.  vi.  19  and  20. 

8..  Watchfulness. — ■16th  verse: 
*'  Take  heed"  Luke  xxi.  36  ;  Mark  xiii. 
33  to  37. 

9.  Perseverance. — "  Continue  in 
them,"  John  xv.  4,  Heb.  vi.  11  and  12, 
X.  35  to  37- 

The  last  references  bringing  us  back  to 

the  introduction  of  the  text,  as  enforcing 
every  admonition  : 


"till  i  come." 

See  2  Tim.   iv.  9,  with  i  Tim.  iii.  14 
and  15. 


HOW  TO  STUDY  THE  BIBLE. 

Object  in  Study-find  Christ,  Jno. 
V.  39;  Luke  xxiv,  27,  44;  Acts  xxviii.  23;  2 
Tim,  iii.  16;  John  vi.  63;  Ps.  cxxxviii.  2; 
Johni.  I,  14;  John  iii.    u-13,  34. 

Life  by  the  Word,  James  i.  18-21  ;  I 
Pet.  i.  23;  Deut.  viii,  3;  John  v.  39;  John 
vi.  63  ;  Psalms  cxix.  130.    . 

Growth,  Job  xxiii.  12  ;  Jer.  xv.  16; 
John  vi.  35  ;  Matt,  v,  6;  2  Thess.  ii,  13  ; 
Eph,  V.  26, 

Power,  Isa.  xi.  8 ;  Ps.  cxix.  89 ;  John 
XV.  7;  Eph.  vi.  17;  Heb.  iv.  12 ;  Rom.  x. 
17. 

Searching  in  study,  John  v.  39;  2  Tim. 
ii.  15.  Dependence  on  the  Holy  Spirit, 
John  xy,  13;  xvi.  26;  Jude  20;  James  i.  5; 
I  Cor.  ii.  9,  10,  12,  13. 

With  whole  mind  and  heart,  i  Chron. 
xxviii.  9.    2  Chron.  xv.  2,    Isa.  xxvi.  3. 

Seek  light  from  any  who  are  taught  by 
the  Spirit.  2  Peter  i.  20,  21.  i  Tim,  iv. 
13-16. 

After  such  study  have  clear  positive 
views,  2  Tim.  i.  8-13.  Psalms  li.12,  i  3. 

Pray  before  reading. 

Read  and  pray. 

Search  and  pray. 

Review  and  pray. 

Hold  fast,  2  Tim.  iii.  14-17;  iv.  7. 

■  Results  to  be  expected  from  right  study 

Personality  of  God,  Son,  and  Holy 
Ghost  known  in  the  soul. 

Fruits  of  the  Spirit  in  Ufe, 

h.  m.  parsons,  d.d. 


86 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


HOLY     SCRIPTURE. 

ITS  Inspiration. —  2  Timothy  iii.  i6, 
17  ;  2  Peter  i.  20,  21;  Romans  xv.  4;  i 
Cor.  X.  II.  Ephesians  vi.  17;  i  Thes.  ii. 
13- 

Its    Sufficiency. — Luke    xvi.    31  ; 

Deut.    iv.  2  ;  Prov.  xxx.  5,  6;  Rev.  xxii. 
17-19. 

Its  Power. — ^John  xv.  3  ;  xvii.  17  ; 
Eph,  V.  26  ;  Jer.  xxiii.  29  ;  Heb.  iv.  12  ; 
Psalm  xix.  7-1 1. 

Its  Use,  and  Our  Duty  Towards 
It. — Nahum  viii.  8,  andix.  2,  3;  2  Chron. 
xvii.  9.  I  Peter  iv.  11.  Acts  xviii.  28,  and 
xvii.  II,  12;  2  Cor.  ii.  17;  Deut.  vi.  6,  7, 
and  xxix.  29;  Col.  iii.  16  ;  Psalm  cxix  i, 
2,  9,  1 1;  Joshua  i.  8;  Ps.i.  2;  i  Pet.  ii.1,2. 

Our  Need  of  Divine  Light. — 
Psalm  cxix.  18  ;  Luke  xxiv.  45  ;  John  vi. 
63  ;  2  Cor.  iii.  5,  6. 

Ignorance  of  Scripture. — Matt. 
xxii.  29;  John  xx.  9;  John  v.  38;  Isaiah  viii. 
20. 


^criptnrtjj. 

Ca:rrfullg> 


John  v:  39 
Johniii:  12,  13. 

Joshua  I.  8. 
Psalms  cxix:  12. 

John  xx:  31. 
Psalms  cxix:  9. 

Acts  xvii:  ii. 

Psalms  i:  2. 

Luke  xxiv:  27. 

2  Tim  iii:  16,17, 

Luke  xxiv:  45, 
James  i:  22. 


?33'  Jo^^  XV.  3  ;  xvii.  17.  2  Cor.  vii, 
I.  Eph.  V.  26,  27.  Psalms  cxix.  162, 
165.  Isaiah  xlviii.  18.  Jer.  x\.  16. 
John  XV.  11-16.      I  John  i.  1-4. 

Would  you  be  Wise? — Read  'The 
Word.'  Psalms  xix.  7;  cxix.  98.  Prov. 
ii.  1-7  ,  ix.  10.  I  Cor.  ii.  1-16.  Col.  i. 
9;  iii.  16.     2  Tim.  iii.  15. 

Would  you  know  God  and  have 
FELLOWSHIP  WITH  HiM  ? — Read  'The 
Word.'  Job  xxii.  21-30.  Prov.  ii.  1-5; 
viii.  34,  35-  John  i.  i,  14,  18  ;  v.  39. 
I  John  v.  30.  Prov.  vi.  20-22.  John 
xiv.  23.     Phil.  iii.  8-1 1. 

Would  you  be  strong  in  the 
Lord,  and  have  victory  over  the 
World,  the  Flesh,  and  the  Devil? 
— Read  '  The  Word.'  Psalms  xvii.  4. 
Prov.  ii.  1-8  :  vii.  1-5.  Matt.  iv.  3-10. 
Eph.  vi.  10-17.     I  John  ii.  14. 

Would  you  b:e  a  successful  Ser- 
vant?—Read  'The  Word.'  Josh.  i.  8. 
Psalms  i.  1-3.  2  Tim.  ii.  15  ;  iii.  16,  17. 
Heb.  iv.  12. 

*'  Let  the  Word  of  Christ  dwell  in  you 
richly."— Col.  iii.  16; 

The  Teacher. — ^John  xiv.  26  ;  xv, 
26  ;  xvi.  13-15.     I  Cor.  ii.  9-13. 


THY  WORD. 

Would  you  be  Saved? — Read  'The 
Word.'  Luke  xvi.  22-31.  Acts  ii.  14  ; 
xiii.  26;  Psalms  cvii.  20  ;  Rom.  i.  16. 

Would  you  have  Eternal  '  Life  ? 
—Read  '  The  Word.'  John  v.  24,  39  ; 
James  i.  18 ;  i  Peter  i.  21-25  ;  John  xx. 

31- 

Would    you  be   Fruitful? — Read 

'  The  Word.'  The  fruit  is  Gal.  v.  22,  23  ; 
Luke  viii.  11.  Rom.  x.  17.  Col.  i.  3-6, 
I  Thes.  i.  2-10  ;  ii.  13.     i  Peter  ii.  2. 

Would  you  be  Holy  and  Happy? 
Read    'The  Word.'  Psalms   cxix.  9,  11, 


PREACH  THE  WORD. 

1.  It  is  Life. — Phil.  ii.  16. 

2.  It  is  Light. — Psalms  cxix.  105. 

3.  It  is  Power, — Rom.  i,  16. 

4.  It  is  Pure — Psalms  cxix,  140. 

5.  It  is  unchanging, — Psalms  cxix.  89, 

6.  It  searches — Heb.  iv.  12. 

7.  It    judges — ^John  xii.  48. 


THE  WORD   OF  GOD. 

I.  THE  PRECIOUSNESS    AND    POWER  OF 

THE  WORD. — To  what  it  is  compared  in 
the  ;pible  itself. —  Psa.  cxix,  32,  35  ; 
Deut.  xxxii,  2  ;  Psa.  xii,  6 ;  Isa.  Iv,  10, 
1 1  ;  Psa.  xix,  ID  ;  Psa.  cxix,  105  ;  Psa, 
cxix,  127  ;  Prov.  vi,  23  ;  Psa,  xix,  10 ; 
Psa.  cxix,  14,  72;  2  Pet.  i,  19;  Psa. 
cxix,  103  ;  Heb.  iv,  12  ;  Luke  viii.  ii  j 
Psa.  cxix,  162  ;    Jer.   xxiii,  29. 


NOTES    FOR    lilBLE    READINGS. 


87 


2.  The  efficiency  of  the  word.-Fs. 
cxix,  130  ;  Psa.  cxix,  50  ;  I  Pet.  i,  22  ; 
Acts  xviii,  28  ;  Psa.  xix,  7  ;  Psa.  cxix, 
II  ;  Psa.  cxix,  99,  icx>  ;  Psa.  cxix,  9  ; 
ijohnii,  14;  John  xx,  31  ;  John  xv, 
3  ;  Acts  XX,  32  ;  James  i,  21  ;  John 
xvii,  17  ;  2  Tim.  iii,  15-17  ;  i  Thess.  ii, 
13  ;  Eph.  V,   26  ;  2  Pet.  i,  4. 

3.  TRUE    USE  OF    THE  WORD. — Mk.  iv, 

24;  Josh,  i,  8 ;  2  Tim.  ii,  15,  16; 
Luke  viii,  18;  Psa.  i,  2,  3;  2  Tim.  ii, 
23-26 ;  Heb.  ii,  i ;  James  i,  22 ;  2 
Tim.  iv,  2-5  ;  Deut.  xvii,  18-20  ;  Psa. 
cxix,  54  ;  Titus  i,  9,  13,  14  ;  Acts  viii, 
27,  28  ;  Titus  ii,  7,  8  ;  Psa.  cxix,  18  j 
Neh.  viii  ;  Deut.  vi,  7-9  ;  Luke  xxiv, 
44,  45;  Deut.  xxxi,  9-13;  Acts  xvIii, 
26;  John  v,  39;  Josh,  viii,  32-35; 
Acts  xxviii,  23  ;  Acts  xvii,  ii  ;  2  Chron. 
xvii,  9 ;  Ezra  vii,  10 ;  Deut.  vi,  6  ; 
Acts  viii,  29-31,  35 ;  James  i,  21  ;  2 
Tim.  ii,  2. 

4.  Spirituality  essential  to  the 

RIGHT  understanding  of  GoD'S  WoRD. 

— John  iii,  20,  21  ;  Psa.  xcvii,  ii  ;  i  Cor. 
xii,  8  ;  John  v,  44  ;  Psa.  xxv,  9  ;  Matt, 
vi,  22  ;  John  viii,  43,  47  ;  John  viii,  3  I, 
32  ;  Eph.  i,  I  7.  ;  2  Cor.  iv,  3,  4.  ;  i 
John  ii,  20,  27;  John  vi,  17  ;  i  Cor.  ii. 
12-15  ;  Psa.  cxii,  4 ;  2  Pet.  iii,  18. 

—Rev.  J.  H.Vincent,  D.D. 


"THE    WORD    OF    GOD,"    HOW 
USED  BY  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT 
IN   EFFECTING  SALVATION. 

1.  In  Regeneration. — Life  springs 
from  a  seed.  Of  the  new  life,  "the 
seed  is  the  Word  of  God."  This  seed 
must  fall  into  the  understanding,  Matt. 
13  :  23-  2.  By  it  is  the  new  life  begot- 
ten. James  i  :  18.  3.  Of  it  is  the  new 
life  born,    i  Pet.  I  :  23, 

Thus  it  converts  the  soul.  Ps  19  :  7- 
And  makes  wise  unto  salvation.    2.  Tim. 

3  ••  13-17. 

2.  In  The  Production  of  Repen- 
tance.— The  impenitent  heart  is  hard  as 
a  rock.  Would  you  break  it  ?  Jer.  xxiii, 
29.     It  is  insensible.     Would  you  pierce 


it  ?  Use  the  sword  of  the  Spirit.  Eph.  vi, 
17  ;  Heb.  iv,  12.  How  Peter  used  it  on 
the  day  of  Pentecost.  Acts  ii,  22-36. 
See  the  result  in  verse  37. 

3.  In  The  Production  of  Saving 
Faith. — How  is  faith  imparted?  Rom. 
x:  17.  See  the  whole  chap.  Instances, 
Acts  viii.  35-38  ;  xvi:  32-34;  xvii.  11- 12. 
See  also,  Jno.  XX.  31  ;  i  Cor.  ii.  5. 

4.  In  the  Sanctification  of  the 

Believer. — For  this  Christ  prayed.  Jno. 

xvii.     17-19.      It   was    Paul's    doctrine. 

Eph.  V :  25-27.  And  Peter's,  i  Pet.  i. 
22. 

Do  we  desire  the  conversion  of  men, 
and  their  subsequent  development  of 
spiritual  character  ?  How  safely,  then, 
may  we  rely  on  the  Word  of  God  ?  Is. 
Iv.  lO-II. 

—Rev.  J.  H.  Castle,  D.D. 


,THE  WORD  OF  GOD. 

1.  Is  OF  Divide  Origin. — It  was  God 
who  spoke  through  all  the  Prophets. 
Heb.  I.  I.  It  was  God  who  by  His 
Spirit  inspired  the  writers  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, they  were  not  its  authors,  it  was 
God's  Word.  2  Pet.  i.  21. 

At  last  God  spoke  Himself.  Heb.  i.  2. 

The    Divine    mind     became    incarnate. 
John  I.  I. 

2.  Hence  the  Authority  of  the 
Word  of  God.  —  When  God  speaks, 
men  should  hear  and  obey.  We  nowhere 
read  "hear  ye  the  word  of  Moses,  of 
Samuel,  of  David,"  but  "hear  ye  the 
Word  of  the  Lord,"  Jer.  xxii.  29.  The 
Bible  is  not  a  Book  of  opinions  ;  it  is  not 
simply  true,  it  is  Truth  divine,  abso- 
lute, final.  John  XVII.  17. 

3.  The  Unspeakable  Value  of 
THIS  Word. —  "  Words  "  are  the  me- 
dium  of  communication  between  mind  and 
mind,  the  "  Word  of  God  "  is  the  mind  of 
God.  If  there  be  a  God  it  is  of  the  ut- 
most importance  that  we  communicated 
to  man  should  know  what  Hi-s  mind  is 
concerning  us.  It  is  essential  to  man's 
true  life  that  he  should  have  this  mind  of 
God.  Men  may  exist,  but  they  cannot  live 
without  It.  Luke  iv.  4. 


88 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


4.  Some  Characteristics  of  the 
Word  of  God. — It  is  Divine  power  to  a 
divine  end — salavtion.  Rom.  i.  16. 

It  illumines,  Ps.  cxix.  130. 

It  quickens,  Ps.  cxix.  25. 

It  cleanses,  John'  xv.  3. 

It  emancipates,  John  xiii.  32. 

It  is  a  lamp   for  stumbling  feet,  and  a 

light  for  dark  paths.  Ps.  cxix.  105. 

It  is  as  gentle  as  the  dew  or  the  rain. 
Deut.  xxxi.  2. 

It  is  a  "hammer"  for  the  stubborn. 
Jar.  xxiii.  29. 

Its  precepts,  supply  laws  for  life. 

Its  examples,  stimulate  to  holiness. 

Its  promises,  comfort  when  all  else 
faiis. 

Happy  the  man  who  loves  the  Word 
of  God.  Ps.  cxix.  127. 

Woe  to  him  who  scorns  this  word,  for 
it  will  be  his  fall.  Matt.  vii.  24,  29.  . 
— Thomas  W.  Handford. 


Meditate  on  the  Word  of  God. — Psa. 
1.  2. 

Live  up  to  the  Word  of  God. — ^Joshua 
i.  8. 


THE  WORD  OF  GOD. 

For  Conversion. — ^James  i.  18,  21  ; 
I  Pet  i.  23,  25  J   Jno.  iii.  5  ;     Titus  iii.5. 

For    Cleansing.— John  xv,  3  ;  Eph. 

v.  26  ;  Ps.  cvii.  20  ;  Ps.  cxix.  9. 

For  Growth. — i  Pet.  ii.  2. 
What  it  is. 

It  is  the  sword  of  the  Spirit. — Eph.  vi. 
17  ;  Rev.  ii.  ,16. 

It  is  the  word  of  life.-^Rev.  xix.  15  j 
Phil.  ii.  16;  Deut.  viii.  3.  • 

It  is  like  as  a  fire  and  as  a  hammer 
which  breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces. — -Jer. 
xxiii.  29. 

It  is  .a  two  edged  sword. — Heb.  iv.  12. 

It  is  the  only,  but  sufficient,  ground  of 

confidence  for  time  or  eternity. — ^John  x. 
28  ;  Num.  xxiii.  19. 

*'  Thou  hast  magnified  thy  word  above 
all  thy  name." 

— Col.  Burton. 


17.     For 


For 


THE  WORD  OF  GOD. 

Love  the  Word  of  God. — Psa.  cxix. 
140. 

Search  the  Word  of  God. — ^John  v.  39. 

Understand  the  Word  of  God. — Lvke 
xxiv.  45. 


THE  BIBLE. 

Read  the  Bible.  John  v.  39.  For  it  is 
God's  Book.     Isaiah  xxxiv.  16. 

Obey  the  Bible,      i  Peter  iv. 
it  is  God's  law.     Psa.  xix.  7. 

Love  the   Bible.     Deut,  vi.    4-9. 
it  is  God's  gift.     Ezek.  xx,  11. 

Trust  the  Bible.  Isa.  xxvi.  4.  For  it  is 
God's  promise.  Heb.  vi.  13-20. 

You  are  in  darkness.  Eph.  v.  8.  It  is 
your  lantern.     Psa.  cxix.  105-130. 

You  are  in  the  enemy's  land.  2  Cor.  iv. 
4.  It  is  your  sword.  Eph.  vi.  17. 

You  are  in  the  midst  of  sin.  John  iii. 
19.     It  is  your  safeguard.    Psa.  cxix.  9-1 1. 

You  are  exposed  to  falsehood.  John 
viii.  44.     It  is  truth.  John  xvii.  17. 

It  tells  the  sinner  of  a  Saviour.  Matt.  i. 
21. 

It  promises  the  slave  Freedom.  John 
viii.  32. 

It  proclaims  to  the  rebel  pardon.  Isa, 
Iv.  6,  7. 

It  assures  the  weak  of  strength.  Isa. 

XXV.  4. 

It  guides  the  lost  to  heaven.  John  xiv. 
6, 

It  tells  the  dead  of  life.  Prov.  viii.  35, 
Eph.  ii.  1-8. 

It  points  the  exile  to  a  home.  2  Sam. 
xiv.  14. 

It  offers  the  weary  rest.  Matt.  xi.  28. 
30. 


SCRIPTURE  EMBLEMS. 

1.  A  lamp,  lantern,  light.    Psa.    cxix. 
105  ;  Prov,  vi.  23. 

2.  A  Fire.  Jer.  xxiii.  29. 

3.  A  Hammer.  Jer.  xxiii.  29. 

4.  A  Sharp  Sword.  Eph.  vi.  17  ;  Heb. 
iv.  12. 

5.  A  Graft.  James  i.  21. 

6.  A  Glass  Mirror.  James  i.  23,  24. 

7.  Pure  Milk,   i  Pet.  ii.  2. 

8.  The  Food  of  the  Soul.    Jer.  xv.  16. 
See  the  heading  of  Acts  in  our  Au- 
thorized version. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  ^y 


€ht  ®0rb  of  €0iJ  aittr  tht  W^nhtlubtx. 


THE     SAVIOUR--GOD. 


EISE,  dear  soul,  behold  thy  Saviour  Acts  ix.  3-5. 

Seated  on  the  Father's  throne  ;  Rev.  iii.  21.    . 

Object  of  God's  highest  favour,  John  xvii.  4,  5. 

See  Him,  God's  beloved  Son  !  Luke  ix.  35. 

Once  on  earth  in  Bethlehem's  manger,  Luke  ii.  4-7. 

As  a  helpless  babe  He  lay, 

God  come  down  from  heaven  to  suffer,  Matt.  i.  23. 

Love  to  sinners  to  display.  2  Cor.  v.  19. 

Sinner,  see  thy  God  beside  thee,  John  iv.  6,  7. 

In  a  servant's  form  come  near,  Mark  ii.  5. 

Sitting,  walking,  talking  vv'ith  thee  !  John  ix.  35,  36. 

Sinai's  mount  no  longer  fear.  John  i.  1 7. 

[See  the  wondrous  God  that  sought  thee,  John  iv.  4-25. 

Sitting  on  Samaria's  well, 

•Or  in  Simon's  house,  that  found  thee,  Luke  vii.  36-50. 

Snatched  thee  from  the  jaws  of  hell ! 

5ee  the  lonely  Man  now  bending,  Mark  xiv.  35. 

In  the  lone  Gethsemane, 

Drops  of  blood  His  face  besmearing,  Luke  xxii.  44, 
Whilst  He  groans  in  agony  !] 

Onward  still  to  Calvary  marching,  John  xix.  17. 

Onward  still  He  speeds  His  way 

«(His  own  Father's  will  fufilling),  John  xviii.  ii. 

Love  to  sinners  to  display. 

Sinner,  see  thy  bleeding  Saviour  Matt,  xxvii.  35. 

Pierced  and  nailed  to  Calvary's  tree  ; 

Sacrifice  of  sweetest  savour  ;  Luke  xxiii.  34-46. 

Object  of  man's  enmity  !  Luke  xxiii.  35,36. 

See  the  sun  at  noon-day  hidden,  Luke  xxiii.  45. 

See  the  rocks  and  mountains  shake,  Matt,  xxvii,.  51. 

See  the  Man  midst  darkness  smitten  !  Mark  xv.  33. 

Why  did  God  His  Son  forsake  !  Mark  xv.  34. 

Sinner,  hear  the  wondrous  story,  i  Cor.  xv.  1,2. 

Jesus  died  and  rose  for  thee,  I  Cor.  xv.  3,  4. 
<jod  in  heaven  now  waits  to  save  thee. 

Now  believing  thou  art  free. 

A.P.C 


go  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


THE  SOUL'S  CRY  AND  THE  SAVIOUR'S  ANSWER. 


ARRANGED    BY    RALPH    WELLS. 

Lord,  be  Thou  my  Helper  :  Ps.  xxx.  lo. 
Fear  not  \  I  will  help  thee  :   Isa.  xli.  13. 

0  Lord,  I  am  in  trouble  :  Ps.  xxxi.  9. 

Call  Alport  Me  in  the  day  of  trouble^  and  I  will  deliver  thee :  Ps.  I.  15. 

Wash  me  throughly  from  mine  iniquity,  and  cleanse  me  from  my  sin  :  Ps.  li.  ^ 

1  will ;  he  thou  clean :  Matt,  viii,  3. 
Keep  the  door  of  my  lips  :  Ps.  cxli.  3. 

I  will  be  with  thy  mouth,  and  teach  thee  what  thou  shall  say  :  Exod.  iv.  12. 

God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner  :  Luke  xviii.  13. 

Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners :  i  Tim.  i.  15. 

What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?  :  Acts  xvi.  30. 

Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shall  be  saved :  Acts  xv.  31. 

0  that  I  knew  where  I  might  find  Him  !     Job  xxiii.  3. 

Ye  shall  seek  Me  and  find  Me  when  ye  shall  search  for  Me  with  all  your  heart 

Jer.  xxix.  13. 
Behold  I  am  vile,  what  shall  I  answer  Thee  ?     Job  xl.  4. 
Though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall  be  as  white  as  snow  :  Isa.  i.  18. 
Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O  God  :  Ps.  v.  10. 
A  new  heart  also  will  I  give  you :  Ezek.  xxxvi.  26. 

1  am  weary  with  my  groaning  :  Ps.  vi.  6. 
Cast  thy  burden  upon  the  Lord :  Ps.  Iv.  22. 

Leave  me  not,  neither  forsake  me,  O  God  of  my  salvation  :  Ps.  xxvii.  9. 

I  will  never  leave  thee,  nor  forsake  thee :  Heb.  xiii.  5. 

Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ?    2  Cor.  ii.  16. 

My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee :  2  Cor.  xii.  9. 

My  soul  thirsteth  for  God,  for  the  living  God  :  Ps.  xlii.  2, 

Thine  eyes  shall  see  the  King  in  his  beauty :  Isa.  xxxiii.  17. 

My  soul  waiteth  for  the  Lord  more  than  they  that  watch  for  the  morning  ;  P$.„ 

xxx.  6. 
Thev  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew  their  strength  :  Isa.  xl.  31. 
The  terrors  of  death  are  fallen  upon  me  :  Ps.  Iv.  4. 

He  that  believeth  on  Me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live :  John  xi.  25. 
Come,  Lord  Jesus  :  Rev.  xxii.  20. 
Surely  I  come  quickly  :  Rev.  xxii.  20. 


THE    GOSPEL    OF    YOUR    SALVATION. 
Ephesians  I.  13, 


T 
H 


HE  only  true  God. — John  xvii.  3. 
he  God  of  all  grace. — i  Peter  v.  10. 
-he  only  wise  God,  our  Saviour. — Jude  25. 


-o  !  every  one  that  thirsteth  come. — Isaiah  Iv.  I. 
-ear  and  your  soul  shall  live. — Isaiah  Iv.  3. 
-ave  faith  in  God. — Mark  xi.  22. 


E-xcept  a  man  be  born  again  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom 
-very  good  gift  is  from  above. — James  i.  17. 
-ven  Etertial  Life. — i  John  ii.  25. 


[John  iii.  3. 

of  God. 


G 
0 

S 
P 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS.  gi 

-od  is  Love. — i  John  iv.  i6. 
od  who  is  rich  in  mercy. — Ephesians  ii.  4, 
od  who  hath  reconciled  us  to  Himself. — 2  Cor.  v.  t8. 

-ne  thing  is  needful. — Luke  x.  42. 
-btain  salvation. — I  Thessalonians  v.  9. 
-nly  believe. — Mark  v.  36. 


-alvation  is  come  unto  the  Gentiles. — Romans  xi.  Ii. 
-alvation  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus. — 2  Timothy  ii.  10. 
-urely  His  salvation  is  nigh. — Psalm  Ixxxv.  9. 


-eace  through  the  blood  of  His  cross. — Colossians  i.  20. 
-eace  with  God. — Romans  v.  i. 
-erfected  for  ever. — Hebrews  x.  14. 


E-temal  Redemption. — Hebrews  ix.  12. 
-xceeding  great  and  precious  promises, — 2  Peter  i.  4, 
-tergal  glory. — 2  Timothy  ii.  10. 


L 
0 


•Old  if  Thou  wilt  Thou  canst  make  me  clean. — Luke  v.  12. 
•ook  unto  Me  and  be  ye  saved. — Isaiah  xlv.  22. 
•ord  I  believe. — ^John  ix.  38. 


■ught  not  Christ  to  have  suffered. — Luke  xxiv.  26. 

•nee  suffered  for  sins,  the  just  for  the  unjust. — i  Pet.  iii.  l8. 

•fFered  Himself  without  spot  to  God. — Hebrews  ix.  14. 


F-uU  of  grace  and  truth. — ^John  i.  14. 
-reely  ye  have  received,  freely  give. — Matthew  x.  8. 
-oUow  thou  Me. — ^John  xxi.  22 


Y 
0 
U 
R 


-ou  hath  He  quickened. — Ephesians  ii.  I. 
our  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God. — Colossians  iii.  3, 
-ield  yourselves  unto  God. — Romans  vi.  13. 


•Id  things  are  passed  away. — 2  Corinthians  v.  17, 

■pen  thy  mouth  wide  and  I  wrill  fill  it. — Psalm  Ixxxi.  lO. 

■h  how  great  is  Thy  goodness  ! — Psalm  xxxi.  19. 

■nsearchable  riches  of  Christ. — Ephesians  iii.  8. 

■nto  you  therefore  which  believe  He  is  precious. — i  Pet  ii.  7, 

■nto  them  that  look  for  Him  shall  He  appear. — Heb  ix.  28. 

-edeemed  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ. — i  Peter  i.  19 
-ejoice  in  the  Lord  alway. — Philippians  iv.  4. 
esist  the  devil  and  he  will  flee  from  you. — James  iv.  7, 


S 


-in  shall  not  have  dominion  over  you. — Romans  vi.  14. 

-earch  the  Scriptures. — ^John  v.  39. 

-ee  that  ye  refuse  not  Him  that  speaketh. — Hebrews  xii.  25. 


A-ccepted  in  the  beloved. — Ephesians  i;  6. 
-Itogether  lovely. — Cant  v.  16. 
-sk  and  ye  shall  receive. — ^John  xvi.  24. 

T-et  your  light  so  shine  before  men. — Matthew  v.  l6, 
-ooking  unto  Jesus. — Hebrews  xii.  2. 
-L_y-et  no  man  beguile  you. — Colossians  ii.  18, 


92  NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 

V-ain  is  the  help  of  man. — Psalm  Ix.  u. 
-ictory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. — i  Cor  xv.  57, 
-essels  of  mercy. — Romans  ix.  23. 

A-ccording  to  His  mercy  He  saved  us. — Titus,  iii,  5, 
-braham  believed  God. — Romans  iv.  3. 
-ccording  to  your  faith  be  it  unto  you. — Matthew  ix. 


T 

I 
0 
N 


•hus  saith  the  Lord. — Exodus  iv,  22 
•hy  sins  are  forgiven, — Luke  vii,  48, 
•hy  faith  hath  saved  thee,  go  in  peace. — Luke  vii.  50. 

-f  Christ  be  not  raised  ye  are  yet  in  your  sins. — I  Cor. 
-know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth. — ^Job.  xix.  25. 
-know  whom  I  have  believed. — 2  Timothy  i.  12. 


-taste  and  see  that  the  Lord  is  good. — Psalm  xxx 
-magnify  the  Lord  with  me. — Psalm  xxxiv.  3. 
-ccupy  till  I  come. — Luke  xix.  13. 

-o  weapon  that  is  formed  against  thee  shall  prosper. — Is.  liv.  17, 

-either  shall  any  pluck  them  out  of  My  hand. — ^John  x,  28. 

-ow  unto  Him  that  is  able  to  keep  you  from  falling  and  to 
present  you  faultless  before  the  presence  of  His  glory  with 
exceeding  joy  ;  to  the  only  wise  God  our  Saviour  be  glory 
and  majesty,  dominion  and  power,  both  now  and  ever. — 
Amen. — Jude  24,  25. 


« 


DOST  THOU  BELIEVE  ON  THE  SON  OF  GOD  ?    - 

FOR 

He  that  believeth  on  the  Son  hath  everlasting  life. — ^John  iii.  36. 

He  that  believeth  on  the  Son  of  God  hath  the  witness  in  himself. — i  John  v.  10. 

He  that  believeth  on  Me  shall  never  thirst. — John  vi.  35. 

H[e  that  believeth  on  Me,  believeth  not  on  Me,  but  on  Him  that  sent  Me. — John 
w.  .  44. 

He  that  believeth  on  Me  hath  everlasting  life. — ^John  vi.  47. 

ile  that  believeth  on  Me.  .out  of  his  belly  shall  flow  rivers  of  living  water. — John 
vii.  38. 

He  that  believeth  on  Him  is  not  condemned. — ^John  iii.  18.- 

He  that  believeth  on  Me,  the  works  that  I  do  shall  he  do  also. — 'John  xiv.  12. 

He  that  believeth  on  Him  shall  not  be  confounded, — i  Peter  ii.  6. 

He  that  believeth  in  Me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live. — John  xi.  25. 
■    Whosoever  believeth  in  Me  shall  never  die. — ^John  xi.  26. 

Whosoever  believeth  on  Me  should  not  abide  in  darkness. — ^John  xii,  46. 

Whosoever  believeth  in  Him  .should  not  perish,  but  have  eternal  life. — ^John  iii. 

Whosoever  believeth  in  Him  shall  receive  remission  of  sins. — Acts  x.  43. 
Whosoever  believeth  on  Him  shall  not  be  ashamed. — Rom.  ix.  33 
Whosoever  believeth  in  Him  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life. — John 
iii.  16. 

BUT 

He  that  believeth  not  is  condemned  already, — John  iii.  18. 
He  that  believeth  not  God  hath  made  Him  a  liar. — i  John  v.  lOi* 
He  that  believeth  not  shall  be  condemned. — Mark  xvi.  16. 
He  that  believeth  not  the  Son  shall  not  see  life. — ^John  iii.  36. 
And  the  Scripture  cannot  be  broken. — ^John  x.  35. 
Him  that  cometh  to  me  I  will  in  no  M^se  cast  out. — ^John  vi.  37. 
How  shall  we  escape,  if  we  neglect  so  great  salvation  ? — Heb.  ii.  3. 
Luke  xxi.  33.     Mark  ix.  23  ;  xvi,  16.      John  v.  24;  vi.  40.      Romans  i,  16  ;  iv 
5  ;  X.  4,  10,  u.      I  John  v.  5. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


9^ 


STATE  BY  NATURE. 

None  righteous. — Rom.  iii.  9-23. 
Death  by  sin. — Rom.  v.  12. 
All  under  sin. — Gal.  iii.  22. 
Children  of  wrath. — Eph.  ii.  1-3. 
Unclean. — ^Job.  xiv.  4. 
Unclean. — Isa.  Ixiv.  6. 
Shapen  in  iniquity. — Ps.  Ii.  tj. 
Evil  continually. — Gen.  vi.  5. 
Desperately  wicked. — Jer.  xvii.  9. 


CHRIST  JESUS,  A  SAVIOUR. 
Shall  save  his  people. — Matt.  i.  21. 
Justified  freely. — Rom.  iii.  24-26. 
A  faithful  saying. — i  Tim.  i.  15. 
Redemption  through  blood. — Eph.  16,7 
By  his  own  blood. — Heb;  ix.  12,  26-28. 

Not  imputing  trespasses.  —  2  Cor,   v. 
17-21. 

Christ  died  for  the  ungodly. — Rom.  v. 
6-1 1. 

Precious  blood, — i  Pet.  i.  18,  19. 

Raised  for  justification. — Rom.  iv.  25. 


CHRIST  JESUS,  A  SAVIOUR  TO 

THE  UTTERMOST. 

Supply  all  your  need. — Phil,  iv.  19. 

Jesus  the  same  forever. — Heb.  xiii.  8. 

Able  to  save  to  the  uttermost. — Heb. 
vii,  25. 

Able  to  keep. — 2  Tim.  i.  12. 

Able  to  do  above  that  we  ask. — Eph. 
iii.  20. 

Able  to  succour  them  that  are  tempted. 
Heb.  ii.  18.  . 

Able  to  build  you  up. — Acts  xx.  32. 

Able  to    make    all    grace    abound. — 
2  Cor,  ix.  8. 

Able  to  present  vou  faultless. — ^Jude  24, 
25- 


CHRIST  JESUS.  THE  SIN-     • 
BEARER. 
Behold  the  Lamb  of  God. — ^John  i.  29. 
By  his  stripes,  healed. — Isa,  liii. 
Christ  hath  redeemed. — Gal.  iii.  13. 
Who  bare  our  sins. — i  Pet.  ii.  24. 
One  sacrifice  for  sins. — Heb.  x.  12-14. 
Forgiveness  of  sins. — Acts  xiii,  38,  39. 
Purged  our  sins. — Heb.  i.  3. 


To  take  away  our  sins. — i  John  iii,  5. 
It  is  finished, — ^John  xix,  30. 

CHRIST  JESUS,  OUR  PEACE. 

Peace  thro'igh  blood  of  his  cross.  —Col 
i.  12-14,  20. 

He  is  our  peace. — Eph.  ii.  13,  14. 

Peace  I  leave  with  you. — ^John  xiv,  27- 

Peace  be  unto  you. — ^John  xx,  19-26. 

Peace  with  God, — Rom.  v.  i. 

Peace  of  God. — Phil,  iv,  6,  7. 

Lord  of  peace. — 2  Thess.  iii.  i6t 

In  Me  peace. — ^John  xvi,  33. 

Peace  from  Him.  —Rev.  i.  4-d 

INVITATIONS. 
I  stand  and  knock. — Rev.  iii.  20. 

I  came  to  call  sinners. — Luke  v.  32. 

Come  unto  me  and  rest, — Matt.  xi.  28"' 

Come  unto'me  and  drink. — ^John  vii. 37 

Come  now,  let  us  reason. — Isa.  i.  18. 

Come  to  the  waters. — Isa.  Iv.  i. 

Come,  all  things  are  ready. — Luke  xiv 


17. 


Nowise  cast  out. — ^Johnvi.  37,  47. 
Come,  whosoever  will. — Rev.  xxii.  17.. 

GOD  THE  GIVER, 

Gift  of  God,  Eternal  Life. — Rom.  vl; 
23. 

This  life  is  in  his  Son.— i  John  v,  11-13. 

He  gave  his  Son, — i  John  iii.  14-16. 

His  unspeakable  gift,-! — 2  Cor,  ix.  15.. 

Gave  Himself  for  me. — Gal,  ii.  20. 

I  give  eternal  life, — ^John  x.  27-29. 

Rich  in  mercy. — Eph.  ii,  4-10. 

Freely  give  us  all  things. — Rom.  viii^ 
31-39. 

All  things  yours.T-i  Cor,  iii.  22,  23 


ASSURANCES. 
Thou  shalt  be  saved. — Acts  xvi,  31. 

Hath  everlasting  life. — ^John  v,  24. 

The  blood  cleanseth. — i  John  i.  7-9. 

I  have  redeemed  thee, — Isa.  xliii.  i,  2. 

Beloved,  now  sons  of  God. — i  John  iii, 
1,2. 

With  Him  in  glory. — Col.  iii,  1-4; 

No  condemnation. — Rom.  viii,  i. 

Full  assurance  of  faith. — Heb.  X.  19-23 

Where  I  am,  ye  may  be  also — ^John 
xiv.  13. 


94 


NOTES   FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


AGAINST  CHRIST. 


IN   THE    GOSPEL   ACCORDING   TO   ST,    LUKE. 


ICAHlii.  II. 

"The  heads  thereof  judge  for  reward,  and  the  priests  thereof  teach  for  hire,  and 
the  prophets  thereof  divine  for  money  ;  yet  will  they  lean  upon  the  Lord,  and  say, 
is  not  the  Lord  among  us  ?" 

They  in  the  Synagogue — Pharisees — Doctors  of  the  law — Scribes — Lawvers  — 
Rulers  of  Synagogue — The  Chief  Priests — The  chief  of  the  people — The  Elders- 
Judas  Iscariot — Captains — Captains  of  the  Temple — Herod — Men  of  War — Pilate  , 

iv.  28-29  They  in  the  Synagogue  were  filled  with  wrath ..  Thrust  Him  out 
of  the  city.. Led  him  unto  the  brow  of  the  hill.. That  they 
might  cast  Him  down. 

V,  17  &  21     Pharisees  and  doctors  of  the  law.  .Scribes  and  Pharisees  began  to 

reason. 
Scribes  and  Pharisees  murmured  against  His  disciples. 
Pharisees  said,  why  do  ye  that  which  is  not  lawful? 
1 1     Scribes  and   pharisees  watched  Him . .  That  they   might  find  an 
accusation.  .They  were  filled  with  madness. 


V. 

30 

y.i. 

2 

VI. 

7  & 

vu. 


30 


Pharisees  and  lawyers  rejected  the  counsel  of  God, 


«.        53-54 


xni. 

14 

XUl. 

31 

XIV. 

I  &3 

XV. 

2 

XVI. 

14 

XVll. 

20 

xix. 

39 

xix. 

47 

^x. 

1-2 

XX,       19-20 


XXll, 

2 

xxn. 

3  to 

xxii. 

52 

xxii. 

66 

xxiii. 

10 

xxni. 

11 

KXUl. 

24-25 

The  Scribes  and  Pharisees  began  to  urge  Him  vehemently.  .Provoke 
him  to  speak  of  many  things,  laying  wait. . .  Seeking  to  catch 
something  out  of  His  mouth,  that  they  might  accuse  Him. 

The  ruler  of  the  Synagogue  answered  with  indignation. 

There  came.  .Pharisees saying,  .get  thee  out. . Herod  will  kill  thee. 
The  lawyers  and  Pharisees  watched  Him. 
The  Pharisees  and  Scribes  murmured. 
The  Pharisees . .  who  were  covetous . .  derided  Him. 
He  was  demanded  of  the  Pharisees,  when  the   kingdom  of    God 
should  come. 

Some  of  the   Pharisees  from   among  the  multitude   said.. rebuke 

thy  disciples. 
The  chief  priests  and  the  scribes  sought  to  destroy  Him. 
The  chief  priests  and  the  scribes  came  upon  Hmi,  with  the  elders. . 

saying.  .By  what  authority  doest  thou  these  things  ?  or  who  is  he 

that  gave  Thee  this  authority  ? 
The  chief  priests  and   the  scribes,  .sought  to  lay  hands  on  Him. 

They  watched  Him,  and  sent   forth  spies . .  feign  themselves  jus 

men,  that  they  might  take  hold  of  His  words. 
The  chief  priests  and  scribes  sought  how  they  might  kill  him. 
Judas  Iscariot.  .communed  with  the  chief  priests  and   captains  how 

he  might  betray  Him.  .they  covenanted  to  give  him  money. 
The  chief  priests  and  captains  of  the  Temple  and  the  elders  .  .wene 

come,  .as  against  a  thief,  with  swords  and  staves. 
The  elders . .  the  chief  priests   and  the   scribes . .  led  him  into  their 

council. 
The  chief  priests  and  scribes ..  vehemently  accused  Him. 
Herod  with  his  men  of  war  set  Him  at  nought  and  mocked  Him 
Pilate  gave  sentence .  .he  delivered  Jesus  to  their  will. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


95 


FOR  CHRIST. 


IN    THE    GOSPEL    ACCORDING    TO    ST.    LUKE. 


ST.  MARK  XII.  37. 
**  The  common,  people  heard  Him  gladly. 

•Great,   innumerable   multitudes   of   the   people.        The   publicans — Sinners. 


ay.        42  The  people  sought  Him,  and  came  unto   Him . .  and   stayed  Him 

that  He  should  not  depart. 
V,  15  Great  multitudes  came  together,  to  hear . .  to  be  healed. 


VI. 

vii. 

viii. 

viii. 

ix. 

ix. 

xi. 

xii.     I 


17  to  19  A  great  multitude  of  people,  .came  to  hear,  .to  be   healed,  .sought 
to  touch  Him. 

29  All  the  people,  .and  the  publicans,  justified  God. 

4  Much  people  were  gathered  together. 

40  The  people  gladly  received  Him.  .they  were  all  waiting  for  Him. 

II  The  people,  .followed  Him. 

37  Much  people  met  Him. 

29  The  people  were  gathered  thick  together. 


xiu.  17 

XV.  I 

xviii.  43 

xix.  37 


XIX, 


48 


XX. 

19 

xxi. 

38 

XXll, 

2 

xxii. 

6 

Gathered   together    an    innumerable    multitude   oi   people.. they 
trode  one  upon  another. 

All  the  people  rejoiced. 

Drew  near. . the  publicans  and  sirmers.  .to  hear. 

All  the  people,  .gave  praise  unto  God. 

The  whole  multitude  of  the  disciples  began  to  rejoice  and  praise 
God  with  a  loud  voice. 

All  the  people  were  very  attentive  to  hear  Him. 

And  they  feared  the  people. 

All  the  people  came  early  in  the  morning,  .to  hear  Him 

For  they  feared  the  people. 

Betray  Him.  .In  the  absence  of  the  multitude. 


xxiii.    37  There  followed  Him  a  great  company  of  people  which . .  bewailed 

and  lamented, 
xxiii.    48  All  the  people  smote  their  breasts. 


96 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


MISERY  REQUIRES  MERCY. 

Jesus  Christ  wants  to  make  you  happy. 
—Psalm  xxiii. 

Jesus  Christ  wants  to  give  joy. — John 
XVi.  22-24. 

Jesus  Christ  wants  to  give  peace. — John 
xiv.  27. 

Jesus  Christ  wants  to  wipe  away  my 
tears.— Isaiah  XXV,  8;  Rev.  vii.  17. 

Jesus  Christ  wants  to  stop  every  sigh. 
—Isaiah  xxv,  10. 

Jesus  Christ  wants  to  satisfy  hunger  and 
thirst, — John  vi,  35  ;  Matt.  v.  6  j  Psalm 
cvii.  9. 

Jesus  Christ  wants  to  give  rest  to  the 
wear)'. — Isaiah  xxvi.  3. 


SEVEN  THINGS  THE  UNSAVED 
•  HAVE. 

No  God.     Eph.  ii.  12. 

No  Christ.     Rom.  viii,  9. 

No  Life.     I  John  v.  12. 

No  Peace.     Rom.  iii.  17. 

No  Hope.     Eph,  ii.  12. 

No  Excuse.     Rom.  i.  20. 

No  Escape.     Heb.  ii.  3. 


"  COMES  "  OF  OUR  LORD  JESUS 
CHRIST. 

Come  and  see.    John  i.  39, 

Come  unto  Me,     Matt.  xi.  28. 

Come  down.     Luke  xix.  5. 

Come. . .  .apart  and  rest.  Mark  vi.  31. 

Come  forth.     John  xi.  43. 

Come  and  dine.     John  xxi.  12. 

Come,  ye  blessed.     Matt.  xxv.  34. 

I  will  COME  again.     John  xiv.  3. 

SEVEN  OTHER  "  COMES." 

Come  into  the  ark.     Gen.  viii.  i. 

Come,  let  us  reason  together  I  a  i 
18. 

Come,  My  people,  enter  into  thy 
chambers.     Isa.  xxvi.  20. 

Come  ye  to  the  waters.     Isa.  Iv.  i. 

Come  out  and  be  ye  separate.  2  Cor. 
vi.  1 7. 

Come  out  of  her,  My  people  Rev. 
xviii  4 

Come  up  hither.     Rev.  iv.  i . 


WHAT  SHALL  I  DO  WITH 
CHRIST  ? 

He  created  me.     Col.  i.  16. 

He  upholds  me.     Heb.  i.  3. 

He  redeemed  me'.     Isa.  xliii.  i. 

He  is  my  mediator,     i  Tim.  ii.  5. 

He  is  my  advocate,     i  John  ii.  i. 

He  is  my  brother.     Mark  iii.  35. 

He  is  my  Saviour.     2  Peter  iii.  18. 

For  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  He- 
gave  His  only  begotten  Son,  that  whoso- 
ever believeth  in  Him  shall  not  perish, 
but  have  everlasting  life.     John  iii.  16. 


GOD'S  WORDS. 

Man  lost.  Rom.  iii.  12  ;  iii.  22,  23 ;  Ec 
vii.  20.    Isa.  liii.  6. 

Redemption  provided.  Isa.  xliii.  i  ;  i 
Cor.  vi.  20  ;  i  Peter  i.  18,  19  ;  Isa.  xliv, 
22. 

Substitute  offered,  i  Peter  ii.  24  ;  Isa. 
1.  8  ;  liii.  11  ;  Rom.  v.  i. 

Sins  forgiven.  Eph.  iv.  32 ;  Matt.  vi.  14 ; 
Isa.  i.  18 ;  Isa.  xliii.  25 


IF 

Man  accepts  His  word.     1  John  i.  4  ;. 

xi.  2. 

Man  accepts  His  name.    Acts,  x  43. 

Man  receives  His  gift.  John  iii.  16  ;  i. 
12. 

Man  loves  His  counsel.  Psa.  cxix.  97  ; 
Isa.  Iv,  6. 

Man  follows  His  teaching.  Psa,  cxix.  2 ; 
I  John  v.  13. 


JESUS  CHRIST,OUR  SIN  BEARER. 
John  i.  29  ;  Isa.  liii ;  Rom^  iv.  25  ;  2 
Cor.  V.  17-21  ;  I  Peter  ii.  25  ;  Heb.  ix. 
26-28  ;  Acts  xiii.  38-39  ;  Heb.  i.  3  ;  i 
John  iii.  5  j  Heb.  x,  12-14, 

JESUS  CHRIST,  OUR  SAVIOUR. 

Matt.  i.  21  ;  Luke  xix.  lo  ;  I.  Tim.  i. 
15  ;  Isa.  Ixiii,  2  ;  Heb.  ix.  12';  Gal.  iii. 
13  ;  I  John  iv.  14-15  ;  iPeter  i.  18,  19  ; 
Rom.  iv.  25  ;  Isa.  xiv.  21,  22. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


97 


HELPS  FOR  INQUIRERS. 

Do  you  doubt  ?  read  i  John  v.  13  ;  iii. 
2,  14,  24. 

Have  you  strayed  ?  read  Jer.  ii.  5,  19, 
27j  32  ;  Jer.  iii.  12-14,  22. 

Are  you  good  enough  ?  read  Rom.  iii. 
io,|i2,  23  ;  Isa,  i.  5,  6  ;  i  John  i.  10. 

Too  great  a  sinner  ?  read  Isa.  i.  18 ; 
liii.  4,  5  ;  xliii.  25  ;  xliv.  22  ;  Rom.  v.  6. 

Don't  know  how  ?  read  John  i.  12  ;  iii. 
15,  16,  18,  36  ;  vi.  29,  47  ;  Isa.  xxvi.  3  ; 
Psa.  xxxiv.  8  ;  Rev.  xxii.  1 7  ;  Rom.  vi.  23  ; 
Isa.  Iv.  I. 

Do  you  trust  and  doubt  ?  read  Rom. 
9,  10  ;  Matt.  X.  32. 

Afraid  you  will  fail  ?  read  Isa.  xlvi.  10, 
J3  ;  2  Tim.  i.  12 ;  Rom.  viii.  38,  39;  Col. 
m.  3,  4. 

Heed  the  invitations.  Read  Matt.  xi. 
28  ;  Rev.  iii.  20;  Rev.  xxii.  17. 


OUR  STATE  OF  NATURE 
Rom.  iii.  9-23  ;  Rom.  v.  12 ;  Col.  ii.  13  ; 
Gal.  iii.  22  ;  Eph.  ii.  1-3 ;  Isa.  Ixiv.  6  ;  Job 
xiv.  4  ;  Psa.  Ii.  5  ;  Gen.  vi.  5  ;  Jer.  xvii.  9, 
Eph.  iv.  18  ;  Eph.  ii.  12. 


JESUS  CHRIST,  THE  SOURCE  OF 
PEACE. 

Col.  i.  2J  ;  Eph.  ii,  14,  17^  John  xiv. 
27  ;  Rom.  V.  i  ;  Phil.  iv.  7  ;  2.  Thess. 
iii.  16  ;  John  xvi.  33  ;  Zech.  ix.  10  ;  Isa. 
ix.  6,  7  ;  Isa.  xxvi.  3. 


FORGIVENESS. 
Isa.  i.  18  ;  Eph.  i.  7  ;  Col.  i.  14  ; 
Rom.  iii.  25  ;  Acts  v.  31  ;  xiii.  38,  39  ; 
Isa.  xliii.  25  ;  xliv.  22 ;  Psa.  Ixxxvi.  5  ; 
Isa.  Iv.  7 ;  Luke  vii.  36-50 ;  Micah  vii. 
18  ;  Ex.  xxxiv.  6,  7  ;  i  John  i.  9  ;  Mark 
ii.  5 ;  Psa.  xxxii.  i,  2 ;  Psa.  ciii.  3,  12. 


JESUS  CHRIST,  A  LIVING 
SAVIOUR. 

Rom.  viii.  34 ;  Rom.  vi.  8,  c, ;  Heb.  ix. 

24 ;  Heb.  vii.  25,  26 ;    Heb.  x.  12,  13  > 

Acts  ii.  22-36 ;  Acts  v.  30,  31 ;  Rev.  i.  17 

18 ;  John  xiv.  19 ;  Matt,  xxviii.  18,  20 

Col.  iii.  1-4 


YOU  MAY  KNOW  THAT  YOU  ARE 
SAFE. 

1  John  V.  13  ;  2  Timothy  i.  12  ;  Colos- 
sians  i.  14 ;  John  v.  24 ;  John  iii.  36. 

7 


COME. 
Come  and  see.     John  i.  39. 
Come  and  rest.     Matt.  xi.  28-30. 
Come  and  dine.     John  xxi.  12. 
Come  and  drink.     John  vii.  37. 
Come  and  buy.     Isa.  Iv.  i. 

CHRIST  SAYS 

Come  unto  Me — for  rest  of  soul.  Matt. 
xi.  28. 

Follow  Me~for  growth  in  grace.   John 
xxi.  19. 

Abidf     in    Me — for  power  to    serve. 
John  XV.  4. 


FOR  WHOM  DID  JESUS  DIE  ? 

Galatians  ii.  20  ;  Romans  v.  6 ;  Rom. 
V.  8  ;  Romans  v.  10  ;  i  Peter  iii.  18  ;  i 
Timothy  i.  15  ;  2  Corinthians  ii.  10. 


CHRIST  JESUS.  OUR  SAVIOUR. 

"  Shall  save  His  people."  Matt.  i.  21 ; 
Jer.  xxiii.  6. 

"  Seek  and  save."     Luke  xix.  10. 

"  Came  to  save  sinners."     i  Tim.i.  15. 

"Beside  me  no  Saviour."  Isaiah 
xliii.  II. 

"By  His  own  blood."     Heb.  ix.  12. 

"Christ  hath  redeemed."     Gal.  iii.  13. 

"Father  sent."     i  John  iv.  14,  15. 

"Precious  blood."     i  Peter  i.  18,  19. 

"  Raised  for  justification."    Rom.  iv.25. 

"  Look  unto  me  and  be  saved."  Isaiah 
xiv.  21,  22. 

"  Exalted  to  be  a  Saviour."     Acts  v.  31. 

"Captain  of  salvation."     Heb.  ii.  10. 

"Author  of  salvation."     Heb.  v.  9. 


CHRIST  JESUS,   THE  SOURCE 
OF  PEACE. 

"Peace  through  blood  of  His  cross." 
Col.  i.  20. 

"He  is  our  peace."     Eph.  ii.  14,  17. 
"  Peace  I  leave  with  you."   John  xiv.27. 
"Peace  with  God."     Rom.  v.  i.  ^ 

Peace  of  God."     Phil.  iv.  7. 
"Lord  of  peace."     2  Thess.  iii.  16. 
"  In  Me  ye  have  peace."   John  xvi.  33 
"Prince  of  peace."     Isaiah  ix.  6,  7. 
"Perfect   peace."     Isaiah  xxvi.  3. 


98 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


ADOPTION. 

What  we  are  by  nature.  Eph.  ii. 
I.  3-12. 

Cast  out  polluted.     Ezek.  xvi.  5,  6. 

God  gives  life  and  washes.  Ezek. 
xvi.  6,  9. 

God's  question  and  answer.  Jer. 
iii.  19. 

"Now  sons  of  God."     i  John  iii.  2. 

"Power  to  become  sons  of  God." 
John  i.  12. 

"Restores  likeness  lost  in  Adam." 
Eph,  iv.  23,  24. 

"  Spirit  of  adoption."     Rom.  viii.  15. 

"Makes  members  of  Christ's  body." 
Eph,  v.  29,  30. 

"  Children — then  heirs."   Rom.  viii.  17, 

"Partakers  of  Divine  Nature."  2 
Peter  1-4. 

"Led  by  the  Spirit."Rom.  viii.  14, 


GvJD'S    DESCRIPTION     OF    YOU 
AAHO  ARE  UNCONVERTED. 

Dectd  in  trespass  and  sins.  Eph. 
ii.  I. 

Abominable.     Job  xv.  16. 

Corrupt.     Psalms  liii.  i. 

Filthy.     Psalms  xiv.  3. 

Lost.     Luke  xix.  10. 

Miserable.     Rev.  iii.  17. 

Blind.     2  Cor.  4;  Isaiah  liii.  2. 

Naked.     Rev.  iii.  17. 

Ungodly.     Rom.  v.  6. 

Full  of  evil.     Eccl.  ix.  3. 

Mad.     Eccl.  ix.  3. 

Deceitful  and  desperately  wicked. 
Jer.  xvii.  9. 

Enemies.     Rom.  v.  10. 

Hopeless.     Eph,  ii.  i?. 

Children  of  disobedience.     Eph.  ii.  2. 

Far  off,  aliens.     Eph.  ii.  12,  13. 

Deaf.     Psalms  Iviii.  4,  5. 

Without  excuse.     Rom.  i.  20. 

Laden  with  iniquity.     Isaiah  i.  4 — D. 

Every  imagination  of  the  thoughts  of 
his  heart  only  evil  continually.  Gen. 
vi.  5- 

All  guilty  before  God.     Rom.  iii.  19. 

There  is  no  difference.  All  have 
s'inned  and  come  short  of  the  glory  of 
Ciod      Rom.  iii.  22,  23 


FOURTEEN  CRIES  WITH  WHICH 
JESUS   WAS   MET. 

The  cry  of  defiance.     Matt.  viii.  29. 
The  cry  of  faith.     Matt,  ix,  27. 
The  cry  of  terror.     Matt.  xiv.  26. 
The  cry  of  danger.     Matt.  xiv.  30. 
The  cry  of  intercession.     Matt.  xv.  23. 
The  cry  of  importunity.     Matt,  xx.31. 
The  cry  of  homage.     Matt.  xx.  9. 
The  cry  of  the  children.   Matt.xxi.  15. 
The  cry  of  hatred.      Matt,  xxvii.  23. 
The  cry   of   involuntary    subjection. 
Mark  iii.  11. 

The  cry  of  weak  faith.     Mark  ix.  24. 
The  cry  of  baffled  rage.     Mark  ix.  26. 
The  cry  of  testimony.      John  i.  15. 
The  cry  of  rejection.     John  xix.  15, 
Reader,  which  will  you  take  up  ? 

W.H.S. 


GODS   WAY   OF    RECONCILIA- 
TION. 

"Without  shedding  of  blood  is  no 
remission."     Heb.  ix.  ii.. 

"It  is  the  blood  that  maketh  an 
atonement  for  the  soul."     Lev.  xvii.  11. 

"When  I  see  the  blood  I  will  pass 
over  you."     Exodus  xii.  13. 

"God  commendeth  His  love  toward 
us,  in  that,  while  we  were  yet  sinners, 
Christ  died  for  us."     Rom.  v.  8. 

"In  whom  we  have  redemption  through 
His  blood,  the  forgiveness  of  sins." 
Eph.  i.  7. 

"Who  His  own  self  bare  our  sins  in 
His  own  body  on  the  tree,  that  we  being 
dead  to  sins,  should  live  unto  righteous- 
ness; by  whose  stripes  ye  were  healed." 

1  Peter  ii.  24. 

"And  all  things  are  of  God  who  hath 
reconciled  us  to  Himself  by  Jesus  Christ 
and  hath  given  to  us  the  ministry  of 
reconciliation,"     2  Cor.  v.  18. 

"To  wit,  that  God  was  in  Christ  recon- 
ciling the  world  unto  Himself,  not 
imputing  their  trespasses  unto  them  ; 
and  hath  committed  unto  us  the  word  of 
reconciliation."     2  Cor.  v.  19. 

"  Now  then  we  are  ambassadors  for 
Christ,  as  though  God  did  beseech  you 
by  us,  we  pray  you  in  Christ's  stead  be 
ye  reconciled  to  God,"     2  Cor.  v.  20. 

"For  He  hath  made  Him  to  be  sin  for 
us  who  knew  no  sin,  that  we  might  be 
made  the  righteousness  of  God  in  Him." 

2  Cor  v.  21 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


99 


GODS  INVITATIONS  TO  COME. 

"  Come  now  and  let  us  reason  together, 
saith  the  Lord ;  though  your  sins  be  as 
scarlet  they  shall  be  white  as  snow, 
though  they  be  red  like  crimson  they 
shall  be  as  wool."     Isaiah  i.  i8. 

"  Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  ye 
to  the  waters,  and  he  that  hath  no  money ; 
come  ye,  buy  and  eat;  yea,  come,  buy 
wine  and  milk  without  money  and 
without  price."     Isaiah  Iv.  i. 

"  Come,  for  all  things  are  now  ready." 
Luke  xiv.  17. 

"Come  unto  Me,  all  ye  that  labour 
and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you 
rest."     Matt.  xi.  28. 

"Jesus  stood  and  cried,  saying.  If  any 
man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  Me  and 
drink."     John  vii.  37. 

"And  let  him  that  is  athirst,  come; 
and  whosoever  will,  let  him  take  the 
water  of  life  freely."     Rev.  xxii.  17. 

"He  that  cometh  to  Me,  I  will  in  no 

wise  cast  out."     John  vi.  37. 


THE   RESULT  OF  BELIEVING. 

"  God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave 
His  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever 
believeth  in  Him  should  not  perish,  but 
have  everlasting  life."     John  iii.  i5. 

"  He  that  believeth  on  the  Son  hath 
everlasting  life."     John  iii.  36. 

"Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  he 
that  heareth  My  word  and  believeth  on 
Him  that  sent  Me  hath  everlasting  life- 
and  shall  not  come  into  condemnation, 
but  is  ^ -^^sed  from  death  unto  life." 
John  V.       . 

"These  are  written  that  ye  might 
believe  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the  Son 
of  God,  and  that  believing  ye  might 
have  life  through  His  name."  John  xx:  31. 

"  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and 
thou  shalt  be  saved."     Acts  xvi.  31. 

"  If  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth 
the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt  believe  in  thine 
heart  that  God  hath  raised  Him  from 
the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved."  Rom.  x.  9. 

"  To  Him  give  all  the  prophets  witness, 
that  through  His  name  whosoever 
believeth  on  Him  shall  receive  remission 
of  sins."     Acts  x.  a^ 


CONSEQUENCES  OF  UNBELIEF. 

"If  ye  believe  not  that  I  am  He,  ye 
shall  die  in  your  sins."     John  viii.  24. 

"  He  that  believeth  not  God  hath  made 
Him  a  liar."     i  John  v.  10. 

"  He  that  believeth  not  is  condemned 

already,  because  he  hath  not  believed  in 

the  name  of  the  only   begotten  Son  oi 

God."     John  iii.  18. 

"He  that  believeth  not  the  Son  shall 
not  see  life;  but  the  wrath  of  God 
abideth  on  him."     John  iii.  36. 

"  How  shall  we  escape  if  we  neglect  so 
great  salvation?"     Heb.  ii.  3. 

"To-day,  if  ye  will  hear  His  voice, 
harden  not  your  hearts."     Heb.  iv.  7. 


THE    UNIVERSAL   TIMETABLE. 


THE   sinner's — NOW  ! 

Thus  saith  the  Lord,  now  once  in 
the  end  of  the  world  hath  He  appeared 
to  put  away  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of  Him- 
self.— Hebrews  ix.  26. 

Now  is  Christ  risen  from  the  dead. — 
I  Cor.  XV.  20. 

Come  now,  and  let  us  reason  to- 
gether, saith  the  Lord,  though  your 
sins  be  as  scarlet  they  shall  be  as  white 
as    snow,    though    they    be    red    like 

crimson  they  shall  be  as  wpol. — Isaiah 
i.  18. 

Now  is  the  accepted  time.  Now  is 
the  day  of  salvation. — 2  Cor.  vi.  2. 

Come,  for  all  things  are  now  ready. 
— Luke  xiv.  17.  > 


THE   believer's — NOW  ! 

Thus  saith  the  Lord,  There  is  there 

fore  now  no    condemnation    to    them 

which   are  in    Christ  Jesus. — Romans 
viii.  I. 

Now  in  Christ  Jesus  ye  who  some- 
times were  afar  off  are  made  nigh  by 
the  blood  of  Christ. — Eph.  ii.  13. 

Beloved,  now  are  we  the  sons  of  God; 

and   it  doth  not   yet   appear   what   we 

shall  be ;  but  we  know  that,  when  He 

shall  appear,  we  shall  be  like  Him  ;  for 

we  shall  see   Him  as  He  is.     And  every 

one  that  hath  this  hope  in  him  purifieth 

himself,  even  as  He  is  pure. — i   John 
iii.  2,  3. 


lOO 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


FALSE   PEACE. 
Deuteronomy  xxix.    19,   20;  Jeremiah 
vi.  14;  Jeremiah  xxxiii.    16,    17;   Isaiah 
xxviii.    15,    17;    I    Thessalonians  v.  3; 
James  i.  22. 


ETERNAL  LIFE   IS  THE   GIFT 
OF  GOD. 
I  John  V.  11;    John  x.  28;    John  iii. 
16,  17;    Ephesians  ii.  8,  9;    Romans  vi. 
2,  3;  John  i.  12. 


WHAT    GOD    SAYS  OF    MY    SINS 
WHEN  I  TRUST   IN  JESUS. 

Blotted  out.     Isa.  xHii.  25  ;  xliv.  22; 
Acts  iii.  19. 

Borne  by  another,     i  Peter  ii.  24. 

Cast  behind  God's  back.     Isa.  xxxviii. 

17- 
Covered.     Rom.  iv.  7. 

Cast    into    the  depths   of    the    sea. 
Mic.  vii.  ig. 

Finished.     Dan.  ix.  24. 

Forgiven.     Col.  ii.  13. 

Not  beheld.     Num.  xxiii.  21. 

Not  imputed.     Rom.  iv.  8.  • 

Not  remembered.     Heb.  viii.  12. 

Pardoned.     Micah  vii.  18. 

Passed  away.     Zach.  iii.  4. 

Purged.     Heb.  i.  3. 

Put  away.     Heb.  ix.  26. 

Remitted.     Acts  x.  43. 

Removed.     Psalms  ciii.  12. 

Subdued.     Micah  vii.  19. 

Sought  for  and  not  found.     Jer.  1.  20. 

Washed  away  with  blood,  i  John  i.  7. 

Taken  away.     Isa.  vi.  7. 


THE  SINNER  AND  THE  SAVIOUR 


The  Sinner. 

The  wages  of  sin  is  death.  Rom.  vi. 
23- 

God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner.  Luke 
xviii.  13.. 

What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?  Acts 
xvi.  30. 

The  Saviour. 

The  gift  of  God  is  eternal  hie.     Rom.  1 
vi.  23.  I 

For  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  He  1 

gave  His  only  begotten  Son,  that  whoso-  '' 

ever  believeth  in  Him  should  not  perish,  1 

but  have  everlasting  life      John  iii.  16. 


The  Sinner 

I  abhor  myself,  and    repent  in  dust 

and  ashes.    Job  xlii.  6. 

Hide  Thy  face  from  my  sins,  and 
blot  out  all  mine  iniquities.    Psalm  Ii.  9. 

The  Saviour. 
I  have  blotted  out,  as  a  thick  cl^^^  '. 
thy  transgressions,   and,  as  a  cloud,  Xay 
sins :  return  unto  Me ;   for  I  have  re- 
deemed thee.     Isaiah  xliv.  22. 
The  Sinner. 

Cast  me  not  away  from  Thy  presence  ; 
and  take  not  Thy  Holy  Spirit  from  me. 
Psalm  Ii.  II. 

The  Saviour. 

Him  that  cometh  to  Me  I  will  in  no 
wise  cast  out.    John  vi.  37. 

The  Sinner. 

All  we  like  sheep  have  gone  astray. 
Isaiah  liii.  6. 

The  Saviour. 
What  man  of  you,  having  an  hundred 
sheep,  if  he  lose  one  of  them,  doth  not 
leave  the  ninety  and  nine  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  go  after  that  which  is  lost 
until  he  find   it  ?    And  when  he  hath 

found  it,  he  layeth  it  on  his  shoulders, 
rejoicing.     Luke  xv.  4,  5. 

For  the  Son  of  man  is  come  to  seek 
and  to  save  that  which  was  lost.  Luke 
xix.  10. 

The  Sinner. 

Shew  me  Thy  ways,   O  Lord ;  teach 
me  Thy  paths.     Psalm  xxv.  4. 
The  Saviour. 
Search  the  Scriptures.     John  v.  39. 

All  Scripture  is  given  by  inspiration 
of  God,  and  is  profitable  for  doctrine, 
for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruction 
in  righteousness.     2  Tim.  iii.  16. 

The   Sinner. 

Open  Thou  mine  eyes,  that  I  may  be- 
hold wondrous  things  out  of  Thy  law. 
Psalm  cxix.  18. 

Leave  me  not,  neither  forsake  me,  O 
God  of  my  salvation.     Psalm  xxvii.  g. 
The  Saviour. 

1  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake 
thee.     Heb.  xiii.  5. 

Yea,  I  have  loved  thee  with  an  ever- 
iy sting  love  .  therefore  v/ith  loving-kind- 
ness have  1  drawn  tlu^c      Jer.  xxxi.  3. 

Lovest  thou  Me  ?   IdIhi  xx)    17 


;OTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


lOI 


The    Sinner, 

Lord,  Thou  knowest  all  things  ;  Thou 
knowest  that  I  love  Thee.     John  xxi.  17. 

The  Saviour. 

If  ye  love  Me,  keep  My  command- 
ments.    John  xiv.  15. 

A  new  commandment  I  give  unto  you, 
That  ye  love  one  another ;  as  I  have 
ioved  you,  that  ye  also  love  one  another. 
John  xiii.  34. 

The  Sinner. 
To  will  is  present  with  me  ;  but  how 
to  perform  that  which  is  good  I  find 
not.  For  the  good  that  I  wouid  I  do 
not ;  but  the  evil  which  I  would  not, 
that  I  do.     Rom.  vii,  18,  19. 

The  Saviour. 

My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee ;  for 
My  strength  is  made  perfect  in  weakness. 
2  Cor.  xii.  9. 

The  Sinner, 

Lord,  increase  our  faith.  Luke  xvii.  5. 
The  Saviour. 

Ask,  and  it  shall  be  given  you.  Luke 
xi.  9. 

If  a  son  shall  ask  bread  of  any  of  you 
that  is  a  father,  will  he  give  him  a  stone  ? 
Luke  xi,  II, 

If  ye  then,  being  evil,  know  how  to 
give  good  gifts  unto  your  children,  how 
much  more  shall  your  Heavenly  Father 
give  the  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask 
Him  ?     Luke  xi.  13. 

The  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is  love,  joy, 
peace,  long-suffering,  gentleness,  good- 
ness, faith,  meekness,  temperance.  Gal. 
V.  22,  23. 

The  Sinner. 

O  Lord  my  God,  in  Thee  do  I  put 
my  trust ;  sav3  me  from  all  them  that 
persecute   me,  and  deliver  me.     Psalm 

vii.  I. 

The  Saviour. 

All  that  will  live  godly  in  Christ  Jesus 
shall  suffer  persecution.     2  Tim.  iii.  12. 

Blessed  are  the'y  which  are  persecuted 
for  righteousness  sake  ;  for  theirs  is  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.     Matt.  v.  10.. 


Whosoever  shall  confess  Me  before 
men,  him  shall  the  Son  of  man  also  con- 
fess before  the  angels  of  God.  Luke  xii.  8. 
'  The  Sinner. 

Hold  Thou  me  up,  and  I  shall  be 
safe.     Psalm  cxix.  117, 

The  Saviour. 

Fear  thou  not ;  for  I  am  with  thee : 
be  not  dismayed  ;  for  I  am  thy  God  :  I 
will  strengthen  thee ;  yea,  I  will  help 
thee ;  yea,  I  will  uphold  thee  with  the 
right  hand  of  My  righteousness.  Isaiah 
xii,  10, 

The   Sinner. 

The  Lord  is  my  light  and  my  salva- 
tion ;  whom  shall  I  fear  ?  The  Lord  is 
my  strength  of  my  life  ;  of  whom  shall 
I  be  afraid  ?     Psalm  xxvii.  i. 

Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley' 
of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no 
evil:  for  Thou  art  with  me;  Thy  rod 
and  Thy  staff  they  comfort  me.     Psalm 
xxiii.  4. 

The  Saviour. 

1  am  the  resurrection,  and  the  hfe; 
he  that  believeth  in  Me,  though  he  were 
dead,  yet  shall  he  live :  and  whosoever 
liveth  and  believeth  in  Me  shall  never 
die.     John  xi.  25,  26, 

Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  He  that 
heareth  My  word,  and  believeth  on  Him 
that  sent  Me,  hath  everlasting  life,  and 
shall  not  come  into  condemnation  ;  but 
is  passed  from  death  unto  life.  John  v,  24, 
The  Sinner. 

O  death,  where  is  thy  sting  ?   O  grave 
where  is  thy  victory  ?  Thanks  be  to  God. 
which  giveth  us  the  victory  through  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,     i  Cor.  xv.  55.  57. 
The  Saviour. 

Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I 
will  give  thee  a  crown  of  life.  Rev.  ii.  10. 

Surely  I  come  quickly.     Rev.  xxii,  20, 
The  Sinner, 

Amen,  Even  so,  come,  Lord  Jesus. 
Rev.  xxii.  20. 


I02 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


THE  GREAT  PHYSICIAN. 


Words  of  Comfort  for  the  Sick. 

1.  Himself  took  our  infirmities,  and 
bare  our  sicknesses.     Matt.  viii.  17. 

2.  Jesus  went  about healing  all 

manner  of  sickness  and  all  manner  of 
disease  among  the  people.     Matt.  iv.  23. 

3.  They  that  are  whole  need  not  a 
physician ;  but  they  that  are  sipk. 
Luke  V.  31. 

4.  Say   in  a  word,   and  my  servant 

shall  be  healed And  they  that 

were  sent,  returning  to  the  house,  found 
the  servant  whole  that  had  been  sick. 
Luke  vii.  7-10. 

5.  Lord,  he  whom  Thou  lovestis  sick. 
When  Jesus  heard  that,  He  said,  This 
sickness  is  not  unto  death  but  for  the 
glory  of  God,  that  the  Son  of  God 
might  be  glorified  thereby.  John  xi.  3,  4. 

6.  The  Lord  will  strengthen  him  upon 
the  bed  of  languishing  :  Thou  wilt  make 
all  his  bed  in  his  sickness.    Psilm  xli.  3. 

7.  The  inhabitants  shall  not  say,  I  am 
sick.     Isaiah  xxxiii.  24. 


HELPFUL  PASSAGES  ¥0'^  DIF- 
FERENT CLASSES  OF 
SEEKERS. 

For  Backsliders. — Jer.  ii.  19 ;  iii.  13, 
14  ;  Hosea  xiv.  4. 

For  the  Slightly  Convicted. — Rom, 
iii.  10,  23  ;  vii.  24;  i  John  i.  10;  Eccl. 
vii.  20 ;  Isa.  liii.  6 ;  Psa.  cxliii,  2 ;  Acts 
xiii.  39 ;  Gal.  ii.  16  ;  Eph.  ii.  8,  9. 

For  those  who  are  too  Great  Sinners. 
— Isa.  i.  18 ;  xliii.  25  ;  xliv.  22 ;  Rom.  v, 
6 ;  I  Peter  ii.  24 ;  Rev.  xxii.  17. 

For  those  who  are  afraid  they  will  not 
Hold  Out. — I  Peter  iv.  19  ;  Psa.  cxxi.  i ; 
Isa.  xliii.  2 ;  i  Cor.  x.  13  ;  2  Cor.  xii.  9  ; 
Rom.  viii.  38,  39. 

For  those  who  Stumble  at  the  Incon- 
sistencies of  Christians. — Rom.  xiv.  12  ; 
Jno.  xxi.  21,  22  ;  Matt.  vii.  1,3;  Rom. 
ii.  I  ;  xiv.  3,  4. 

For  those  who  have  Tried  to  Become 
Christians  Without  Success. — Jer.  xxix. 
13  ;  Deut.  iv.  29  ;  Rom.  iv.  5 


For  those  who  Wait  a  f'^/^xe  Conveni- 
ent  Season. — Prov.  xxvii.  i ;  James  iv, 
13,  17 ;  2  Cor.  vi.  2  ;  Heb.  iii.  13. 

For  those  who  have  too  many  things 
to  Give  Up. — Mark  viii.  35,  37 ;  Phil.  iii. 
7.8. 

For  those  who  want  to  Know  How  to 

Believe. — Jno.   v.  24.     It  is  to  receive, 

Jno.  i.  II,  12.     It  is  to  trust.     Isa.  xxvi.  3, 

4.     It  is  to  take.    Rev.  xxii.  17.    Results 

of  believing  :  Joy. — Jno.  xv.  11  ;  Rest— 

xi.  28.     Peace — xiv.  27. 

Inquirers  who  have  believed  some- 
times are  in  darkness,  because  they  have 
not  confessed.     Rom.  x.  10. 

Contrast  instances  of  Conversion, 
Paul.     Acts  ix.     Cornelius,  Acts  x. 

For  skeptical  Inquirers. — Jno.  vi.  40  ; 
Psa.  XXV.  14 ;  Jno.  vii.  17. 


IN  OUR  NATURAL  STATE.  WE 
ARE— 

Born  in  sin  :  Psa.  Ii.  5.  Under  the 
curse :  Gal.  iii.  10 ;  Eph.  ii.  3.  As 
prisoners  before  the  bar  of  God,  con- 
demned already:  John  iii.  18;  Rom.  iii. 
19-23- 


JUSTIFICATION— 
Frees  the  sinner  (who  by  nature  stands 
guilty  before  God)  from  condemnation. 
Isa.  liii.  6;    liv.  17;    Rom.  viii.  1-33.     It 
is  the  act  of  God.     Isa.  1.  8,  9.     Not  oi 
works.     Gal.  iii.  11.      But  freely  by  His 
grace.     Rom.  iii.  24  ;  Ps.  ciii.  2,  3  ;  Eph. 
i.  6.     Through  Christ  alone.     Acts  iv. 
12;  Rom.  V.   18,   19.     And  secured  by 
God's  faithfulness  and  justice,     i  John 
i.  9.     It  is  NOT  by  righteousness  impart- 
I  ED  to  us,  or  inherent  in  us ;  but  through 
Christ's  perfect  righteousness  imputed 
to  us.     2  Cor.  V.  21.     Not  only  are  we 
thereby  freed  from  condemnation,   but 
we  are   accounted  righteous.     Isa.  Ixi. 
10;  Rom.  V.  18.    We  are  called  by  the 
very  same  name  as  Christ.     Jer.  xxiii.  6 ; 
xxxiii.  16.     Have  a  good  title  to  eternal 
life.     Titus  iii.  7.     And  our  glorification 
is  ensured.     Rom.  viii.  30.     We  work 
not  for  justification,  but  fioDi,  after,  or 
because  of  justification.     Gal.  ii.  16-21 ; 
Rom.  viii.  1-4. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


^3 


OUR  SALVATION  IS— 

Not  of  works.  Eph.  ii.  g.  It  is  by 
grace  through  faith.  Eph.  ii.  8.  And 
flows  to  us  through  ordinances  appointed 
by  Christ  himself.  Rom.i.  i6  ;  Mark  xvi. 
16.     I  Cor.  xi.  23-26;  Psa.  cxlv.  18,  19. 


GOOD  WORKS— 

Are  the  evidence  and  fruits  of  faith. 
James  ii.  17-20.  They  do  not  precede 
justification.  Rom.  iv.  3-8.  They  are 
not "  the  meritorious  or  procuring  cause" 
of  justification.  Rom.  iii.  20;  Acts  xiii. 
39.  But  they  follow  justification.  Rom, 
vi.  18-22. 


regeneration- 
Is  the  new  birth — the  second  birth. 
It  imparts  a  new  nature.  Without  it 
none  can  see  the  kingdom  of  God.  John 
iii.  3-5.  It  is  the  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  John  i.  13  ;  iii.  5-6.  By  means 
of  the  Word  of  God.  James  i.  18;  i 
Pet.  i.  23.  It  changes  the  will,  the  affec- 
tions, and  the  conduct :  causes  us  to 
hate  sin,  and  produces  likeness  to  God. 
Eph,  iv.  20-24,  The  evidences  of  the 
new  birth  are — A  belief  that  Jesus  is  the 
Christ.  I  John  v.  i-io.  And  living  only 
for  God's  glory.     2  Cor.  v.  14,  15. 


adoption- 
Is  God's  receiving  us  into  his  family. 
I  John  iii.  i ;  Rom.  viii.  15,  16.  Making 
us  His.  John  i.  12 ;  2  Cor.  vi.  17,  18. 
Making  us  co-heirs  with  Christ.  Rom. 
viii.  17.  It  produces  in  us — Filial  love. 
I  John  iv.  19,  Filial  obedience,  i  John 
V.  1-3. 


SANCTIFICATION— 

Follows  justification.  It  is  not,  like 
it,  perfect,  i.e.,  at  once  complete  and 
equal  in  degree  in  all  believers — ^but  it  is 
a  progressive  work,  i  Thess.  iv.  1-3. 
Justification  is  attained  through  a  right- 
eousness eternal  to  us,  viz.,  the  perfect 
righteousness  of  Christ  imputed  to  us. 
I  Cor.  i.  30.  Sanctification  is  a  work 
within  lis — a  righteousness  imparted  to 


and  wrought  in  us  by  the  Spirit  of  God. 
I  Cor.  vi.  II.  Justification  gives  us  our 
title  to  heaven  ;  Sanctification  makes  us 
meet  for  heaven.  Eph.  v.  25-27;  i 
Thess.  V.  23. 


THE  BLESSEDNESS  OF  BELIEV- 
ERS   IS     BEGUN    ON     EARTH, 
AND    THEIR     GLORIFICATION 
PERFECTED  IN  HEAVEN. 
In  this  Life— They  are  blessed  with 
all  spiritual  blessings.     Eph.  i.  3.     They 
experience  God's  presence,  favour,  and 
love.    John  xiv.  23  ;    Rom.  v.    5.     They 
are  already  fellow-citizens  with  the  saints 
Eph.  ii.  19.     Their  joy  is  full  of  glory. 

1  Pet.  I,  8.  Angels  minister  unto  them. 
Heb.  i,  14.  They  are  sealed  unto  the 
day  of  redemption.  Eph.  iv.  30.  And  are 
changed  from  glory  to  glory.  2  Cor.  iii. 
18;  Prov.  iv.  18.  At  Death — They 
feel  secure.  Ps.  xxiii.  4 ;  i  Cor.  xv.  55- 
57.  They  are  more  than  conquerors. 
Rom.  viii.  37-39;  2  Pet.  i.  11.  They 
die  in  the  Lord,  and  are  blessed.  Rev. 
xiv.  13,  They  go  to  be  with  Christ  which 
is  far  better.  Philip,  i.  23.  The  soul 
becomes  perfect  in  holiness.  Heb.  xii. 
23.  And  enters  into  glory.  2  Cor.  v.  6- 
8.  The  body  (united  to  Christ)  rests  in  the 
grave.  Isa.  Ivii.  i,  2;  i  Thess.  iv.  14. 
Awaiting  its  redemption.  Rom.  viii.  23. 
In  the  Resurrection. — The  body  sown 
in  dishonour  shall  be  raised  in  glory, 
Philip,  iii.  21 ;  i  Cor.  xv.  43.  The  soul 
and  body  shall  be  re-united,  i  Thess. 
iv,  15-17;  I  Cor.  XV.  51-53.  The  dead 
in  Christ  rise  first,  i  Thess.  iv,  16,  The 
redeemed  shall  appear  with  him  in  glory. 
Col.  iii.  4,  They  shall  be  like  Him.  i 
John  iii,  z',  Ps.  xvii.  15.  They  shall  be 
glorified  vwth  Him.     Rom.  viii,   16-18 ; 

2  Tim.  ii.  11,  I2.  They  shall  see  Him 
face  to  face,  i  Cor,  xiii,  12.  Experience 
fulness  of  joy,  Ps,  xvi,  11,  Serve  Him 
day  and  night.  Rev.  vii.  15.  And  shall 
be  for  ever  with  the  Lord,  i  Thess.  iv. 
17. 


I04 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


THE  SONG  OF  THE  REDEEMED. 
Salvation  to  our  God,  which  sitteth 
upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb, 
Rev.vii.  lo.  Unto  him  that  loved  us, 
and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own 
blood,  and  hath  made  us  kings  and 
priests  unto  God  and  his  Father  :  to  him 
be  glory  and  dominion  for  ever  and  ever. 
Amen.     Rev.  i.  5,  6.  J.  B.  A. 


THINGS  WORTH   KNOWING. 

Our  State  by  Nature. —  For  I  know 
that  in  me  (that  is,  in  my  flesh,)  dwelleth 
no  good  thing :  for  to  will  is  present  with 
me ;  but  how  to  perform  that  which  is 
good  I  find  not.     Rom.  vii.  18. 

The  Purpose  for  which  Ch^'ist  was 
manifested. — And  ye  know  that  he  was 
manifested  to  take  away  our  sins ;  and  in 
him  is  no  sin.     i  John  iii.  5. 

Christ  Himself — And  we  believe  and 
are  sure  [know]  that  thou  art  that 
Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God.  John 
vi.  69.  I  am  the  good  shepherd,  and 
know  my  sheep,  and  am  known  of  mine, 
John  X.  14.  For  the  which  cause  I  also 
suffer  these  things :  nevertheless  I  am 
not  ashamed :  for  I  know  whom  I  have 
believed,  and  am  persuaded  that  he  is 
able  to  keep  that  which  I  have  committed 
imto  him  against  that  day.  2  Tim.  i.  12. 

The  Holy  Spirit. — Even  the  Spirit  of 
truth ;  .whom  the  world  can  not  receive, 
because  it  seeth  him  not,  neither  knoweth 
him  :  but  ye  know  him ;  for  he  dwelleth 
■with  you,  and  shall  be  in  you.  John 
xiv.  17. 

God  the  Father. — And  this  is  life 
eternal,  that  they  might  know  thee  the 
only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ,  whom 
thou  hast  sent,  John  xvii.  3.  I  write 
unto  you,  fathers,  because  ye  have  known 
him  that  is  from  the  beginning.  I  write 
unto  you,  young  men,  because  ye  have 
overcome  the  wicked  one.  I  write  unto 
you,  little  children,  because  ye  have 
known  the  Father,     i  John  ii.  13. 

The  Grace  of  Christ. — For  ye  know 
the  Grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that 


though  He  was  rich,  yet  for  your  sakes 
He  became  poor,  that  ye  through  His 
poverty  might  be  rich.     2  Cor.  viii.  9. 

The  Love  of  Christ. — And  to  know  the 
love  of  Christ,  which  passe th  knowledge 
that  ye  might  be  filled  with  all  the 
fulness  of  God.    Eph.  iii.  19. 

Christ  Risen. — ^Jesus  saith  unto  them, 
come  and  dine.  And  none  of  the 
disciples  durst  ask  Him,  who  art  thou  ? 
knowing  that  it  was  the  Lord,  John  xxi. 
12.  Knowing  that  Christ  being  raised 
from  the  dead  dieth  no  more ;  death  hath 
no  more  dominion  over  Him,  Rom.  vi.9. 
Knowing  that  He  which  raised  up  the 
Lord  Jesus  shall  raise  up  us  also  by 
Jesus,  and  shall  present  us  with  you.  2 
Cor.  iv.  14. 

The  Way  of  Justification. — Knowing 
that  a  man  is  not  justified  by  the  works 
of  the  law,  but  by  the  faith  of  Jesus 
Christ,  even  we  have  believed  in  Jesus 
Christ,  that  we  might  be  justified  by  the 
faith  of  Christ  and  not  by  the  works  of 
the  law :  for  by  the  works  of  the  law 
shall  no  flesh  be  justified.    Gal,  ii.  16. 

That  we  have  Passed  from  Death  unto 
Life. — We  know  that  we  have  passed 
from  death  unto  life,  because  we  love 
the  brethren.  He  that  loveth  not  his 
brother  abideth  in  death,    i  John  iii.  14. 

Our    Election     of     God. Knowing, 

brethren  beloved,  your  election  of  God, 
I.  Thess.  i.  4.  According  as  He  hath 
chosen  us  in  Him  before  the  foundation 
of  the  world,  that  we  should  be  holy 
and  without  blame  before  Him  in  love. 
Eph.  i.  4. 

That  we  have  Eternal  Life. — These 
things  have  I  written  unto  you  that 
believe  on  the  name  of  the  Son  of  God : 
that  ye  may  know  tha4:  ye  have  eternal 
life,  and  that  ye  may  believe  on  the  name 
of  the  Son  of  God.      i  John  v.  13. 

That  all  Things  work  Together  for 
our  Good. — And  we  know  that  all  things 
work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love 
God,  to  them  who  are  the  called  accor- 
ding to  his  purpose.     Rom.  viii.  28. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


Ikai  our  Old  Man  was  Crucified  'with 
Christ. — Knowing  this  that  our  old  man 
is  crucified  with  him,  that  the  body  of 
sin  might  be  destroyed,  that  henceforth 
■we  should  not  serve  sin.  For  he  that  is 
dead  is  freed  from  sin.  Now  if  we  be 
dead  with  Christ,  we  believe  that  we 
-shall  also  live  with  Him.   Rom.  vi.  6,7, 8 

That  Tribulation  leads  to  Patience  and 
Experience  and  Hope. — And  not  only  so, 
but  we  glory  in  tribulations  also ;  knowdng 
that  tribulation  worketh  patience;  and 
patience,  experience;  and  experience, 
hope:  and  hope  maketh  not  ashamed  ; 
because  the  love  of  God  is  shed  abroad 
in  our  hearts  by  the  Holy  Ghost  which 
is  given  unto  us.     Rom.  v.  3,  4,  5. 

That  Resurrection  Awaits  Us. — Martha 
saith  unto  Him,  I  know  that  he  shall  rise 
again  in  the  resurrection  at  the  last  day. 
Jesus  saith  unto  her,  I  am  the  resurrec- 
tion, and  the  life:  he  that  believeth  in 
Me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he 
live.  And  whosoever  believeth  in  Me 
shall  never  die.  Believest  thou  this? 
John  xi.  24-26. 

That  in  the  last  days  Perilous  Times 
shall  Come. — This  know  also,  that  in  the 
last  days  perilous  times  shall  come. 
For  men  shall  be  lovers  of  their  own 
selves,  covetous,  boasters,  proud, 
blasphemers,  disobedient  to  parents, 
unthankful,  unholy,  without  natural 
affection,  trucebreakers,  false  accusers, 
incontinent,  fierce,  despisers  of  those 
that  are  good,  traitors,  heady,  high- 
minded,  lovers  of  pleasures  more  than 
lovers  of  God ;  having  a  form  of  godliness, 
but  denying  the  power  thereof:  from 
>3uch  turn  away.    2  Tim.  iii.  1-5. 

That  if  Death  comes  we  have  a  House 
in  Heaven.^-Fov  we  know  that  if  our 
■earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  were 
•dissolved,  we  have  a  building  of  God,  an 
house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in 
the  heavens.  For  in  this  we  groan, 
earnestly  desiring  to  be  clothed  upon 
with  our  house  which  is  from  Heaven  : 
if  so  be  that  being  clothed  we  shall  not 


be  found  naked.  For  we  that  are  in  this 
tabernacle  do  groan,  beiHg  burdened 
not  for  that  we  would  be  unclothed,  but 
clothed  upon,  that  mortality  might  be 
swallowed  up  of  life.  Now  he  that 
hath  wrought  us  for  the  self  same  thing 
is  God,  who  also  hath  given  unto  us  the 
earnest  of  the  Spirit.  Therefore  we  are 
always  confident,  knowing  that,  whilst  we 
are  at  home  in  the  body,  we  are  absent 
from  the  Lord :  (for  we  walk  by  faith 
not  by  sight).     2  Cor.  v.  1-7. 

That  the  day  of  the  Lord  cometh  as  a 
Thief  in  the  Night. — For  yourselves 
know  perfectly  that  the  day  of  the  Lord 
so  cometh  as  a  thief  in  the  night.  For 
when  they  shall  say,  peace  and  safety  ; 
then  sudden  destruction  cometh  upon 
them,  as  travail    upon   a  woman   with 

child ;  and  they  shall  not  escape,  i  Thess. 
V.  2,  3. 

That  Christ  our  Life  shall  Appear. — 
Beloved  now  are  we  the  sons  of  God  and 
it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we  shall  be.* 
but  we  know  that  when  He  shall  appear, 
we  shall  be  like  Him,  for  we  shaU  see 
Him  as  He  is.     i  John  iii.  2. 

That  in  Heaven  we  have  a  better 
Substance  than  on  Earth. — For  ye  had 
compassion  of  me  in  my  bonds,  and  took 
joyfully  the  spoiling  of  your  goods 
knowing  in  yourselves  that  ye  have  in 
Heaven  a  better  and  an  enduring  sub. 
stance.  Cast  not  away  therefore  your 
confidence,  which  hath  great  recompense 
of  reward.    Heb.  x.  3^1,  35. 


•    THINGS  WORTH  HAVING. 

Faith  in  God. — And  Jesus  answering 
saith  unto  them,  have  faith  in  God. 
Mark  xi.  22. 

Everlasting  Life. — He  that  believeth 
on  the  Son  hath  everlasting  life :  and  he 
that  believeth  not  the  Son  shall  not  see 
life ;  but  the  wrath  of  God  abideth  on 
him.     John  iii.  36. 

The  Joy  of  Jesus. — And  now  come  I 
to  thee ;  and  these  things  I  speak  in  the 
world,  that  they  might  have  My  joy 
fulfilled  in  themselves.     John  xvii.  13. 


io6 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


The  Light  of  Life. — Then  spake  Jesus 
again  unto  them,  saying,  I  am  the  light 
of  the  world :  he  that  followeth  Me  shall 
not  walk  in  darkness,  but  shall  have  the 
light  of  life.     John  viii.  12. 

The  Commandments  of  Jesus. — He  that 
hath  my  commandments,  and  keepeth 
them,  he  it  is  that  loveth  Me:  and  he 
that  loveth  Me  shall  be  loved  of  my 
Father,  and  I  will  love  him,  and  will 
manifest  Myself  to  him.     John  xiv.  21. 

Hope  toward  God. — And  have  hope 
toward  God,  which  they  themselves  also 
allow,  that  there  shall  be  a  resurrection 
of  the  dead,  both  the  just  and  the  un- 
just.    Acts  xxiv.  15. 

A  Conscience  Void  of  Offence. — And 
herein  do  I  exercise  myself,  to  have 
always  a  conscience  void  of  offence 
toward  God,  and  toward  men.  Acts 
xxiv.  16. 

Peace  with  God  through  ouf  Lord 
jfesus  Christ. — Therefore  being  justified 
by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God  through 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,     Rom.  v.  i. 

Access  by  Faith,  into  this  Grace  wherein 
we  Stand. — By  whom  also  we  have  access 
by  faith  into  this  grace  wherein  we  stand, 
and  rejoice  in  hope  of  the  glory  of  God. 
Rom.  V.  2, 

Fruit  unto  Holiness. — But  now  being 
made  free  from  sin,  and  become  servants 
to  God,  ye  have  your  fruit  unto  holiness, 
and  the  end  everlasting  life.  Rom.  vi.22. 
The  First  Fruits  of  the  Spirit. — And 
not  only  they,  but  ourselves  also,  which 
have  .the  first  fruits  of  the  Spirit,  even 
we  ourselves  groan  within  ourselves, 
waiting  for  the  adoption,  to-wit,  the 
redemption  of  our  body.     Rom.  viii.  23. 

The    Holy    Ghost    which    is    in  us. — 

What !  know  ye  not  that  your  body  is 

the  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost  which  is 

in  you,  which  ye  have  of  God,  and  ye 

are  not  your  own  ?     i  Cor.  vi.  19. 

A  Building    of   God. — For  we   know 
that  if  our  earthly  house  of  this  taber- 
nacle were  dissolved,  we  have  a  building 
'of  God.  an  house  not  made  with  hands 
eternal  m  the  heavens.     2  Cor.  v.  i. 


All  Sufficiency. — And  God  is  able  to 
make  all  gi-ace  abound  toward  you ;  that 
ye,  always  having  all  sufficiency  in  all 
things,  may  abound  to  every  good  work, 
2  Cor.  ix.  8. 

God's  Promises. — Having  therefore- 
these  promises,  dearly  beloved,  let  us. 
cleanse  ourselves  from  all  filthiness  of 
the  flesh  and  spirit,  perfecting  holiness 
in  the  fear  of  God.     2  Cor,  vii.  i. 

Redemption  through  the  Blood 0/  Christ.— 
In  whom  we  have  redemption  through.- 
His   blood,  the   forgiveness   of  sins,  ac- 
cording   to    the    riches  of    His  grace 
Eph.  i.  7. 

Access  by  one  Spirit  unto  the  Father. — 
For  through  Him  we  both  have  access, 
by  one  Spirit  unto  the  Father.  Eph.ii.i8. 

A  desire  to  Depart  and  to  be  with 
Christ. — For  I  am  in  a  strait  betwixt 
two,  having  a  desire  to  depart,  and  to  be- 
with  Christ;  which  is  far  better.  Phil, 
i.  23. 

The  same  Love. — Fulfil  ye  my  joy,  that 
ye  be  like-minded,  having  the  same  love 
being    ol     one    accord,   of   one    mind- 
Phil,  ii.  2. 

Promise  of  the  Life  that  now  is,  and  of 
that  which  is  to  come, — For  bodily  exercise- 
profiteth  little :  but  godliness  is  profitable 
unto  all  things,  having  promise  of  the 
life  that  now  is,  and  of  that  which  is- 
to  come.     I  Tim.  iv.  8. 

A  Great  High  Priest. — Seeing  then> 
that  we  have  a  great  high  priest,  that  is. 
passed  into  the  heavens,  Jesus  the  Son 
of  God,  let  us  hold  fast  our  profession. 

Heb.  iv.  14. 

i  •    ^ 

Hope  as  an  Anchor  of  the  Soul. — Whicb 

hope  we  have  as  an  anchor  of  the  soul, 

both   sure    and     steadfast,    and    which 

entereth  into  that  within  the  veil.     Heb.. 

vi.  19. 

A  Strong  Consolation. — That   by  twa 

immutable    things,    in     which    it    was- 

mpossible  for  God  to  lie,  we  might  have- 

a  strong  consolation,  who  have  fled  for 

refuge  to  lay  hold  upon  the  hope  set 

before  us.     Heb.  vi.  18. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


107 


Boldness  to  Enter  into  the  Holiest. — 
Having  therefore,  brethi'en,  boldness  to 
enter  into  the  holiest  by  the  blood  of 
Jesus.     Heb.  x.  19. 

Fellowship  with  Him. — If  we  say  that 
we  have  fellowship  with  Him,  and  walk 
in  dai'lcness,  we  lie,  and  do  not  the  truth. 
I  John  i.  6. 

Fellowship  one  with  Another. — But  if 
we  walk  in  the  light,  as  He  is  in  the 
light,  we  have  fellowship  one  with 
another,  and  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ 
His  Son  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin.  i 
John  i.  7. 

An  Advocate  with  the  Father. — My 
little  children,  these  things  write  I  unto 
you,  that  ye  sin  not.  And  if  any  man 
sin,  we  have  an  advocate  with  the 
Father,  Jesus  Christ  the  righteous.  i 
John  ii.  I. 

Boldness  in  the  day  of  yudgment. — 
Herein  is  our  love  made  perfect,  that  we 
may  have  boldness  in  the  day  of  judg- 
ment :  because  as  He  is,  so  are  we  in  this 
world.  I  John  iv.  17. 
'  The  Petitions  that  we  desire  of  God. — 
And  if  we  know  that  he  hears  us,  what- 
soever we  ask,  we  know  that  we  have 
the  petitions  that  we  desired  of  Him. 
I  John  V.  15. 


FOR  ANXIOUS  SOULS. 
The  scape  goat.     Leviticus  xvi.  21,  22. 
Behold  the  Lamb,  &c.     John  i.  29. 
All  we  like  sheep,  &c.     Isaiah  liii.  6. 
As  far  as  the  East  is  from,  &c.     Psalms 
ciii.  12. 

I  have  blotted  out,   &c.      Isaiah  xliv. 
22. 

I  even  I  am  He,  &c.     Isaiah  xliii.  25. 

Having  made  peace,  &c.     Colossians 
i.  20. 

God  is  reconciled.     2  Cor.  v.  14-21. 

His  own  self  bare  our  sins,  &c.     i  Pet. 
ii.  24. 

His  blood  cleanseth   from   all   sin.     i 
John  i.  7. 

God  hath  given  to  us  eternal   life,     i 
John  V.  II. 

Whosoever  shall  call  on  the  Lord,  &c. 
John  iii.  15-18. 


ASSURANCE  OF  SALVATION. 

I  Cor.  i.  18;  Heb.  x.  39;  2  Tim.  i.  9; 
Titus  iii.  5  ;  Gal.  iii.  13  ;  i  John  v.  11. 
13  ;  John  iii.  18,  36  ;  John  vi.  47  ;  Isa. 
xliii.  I  ;  Ps.  cvii.  2  ;  John  v.  24. 

HAPPINESS  OF  THE  SAVED. 
Rev.  ii..i7,  26 ;  Rev.  iii,  5,  12,  21. 

SUDDENLY! 

Thoughtful  and  observant  men  and 
women  must  have  noticed  the  events  of 
life  that  have  come  upon  us  suddenly. 

We  find  as  early  as  Miriam  the  Lord 
spake  to  her,  and  she  became  leprous 
"  suddenly."     Num.  xii.  4,  10. 

At  the  battle  of  Gibeon  Joshua  came 
upon  the  people  "  suddenly."  Josh.  x. 
9 ;  xi.  7. 

The  temple  v^as  sanctified  "suddenly." 
2  Chron.  xxix,  36. 

The  wicked  are  cursed  "suddenly" 
(without  remedy).  Ps,  Ixiv.  7;  Prov. 
vi.  15. 

Young  men  are  entrapped  ^^  suddenly." 
Prov.  vii.  22  ;  Eccles.  ix.  12. 

The  visitation  of  the  Lord  with  thun- 
der, earthquake,  noise,  storm,  tempest, 
flame,  was,  and  is  to  be  in  an  instant 
"suddenly."     Isaiah  xxix.  5. 

The  daughter  of  Babylon  was  made  a 
widow  and  childless — desolate  "  sudden- 
ly."    Isaiah  xlvii.  11 ;  xlviii.  3. 

Jerusalem  was  destroyed  "  suddenly." 
Jer,  iv.  20;  vi,  26;  xv.  8. 

The  war-cry  was  heard  "suddenly." 
Jer.  xviii.  22;  xlix.  19. 

Babylon  fell  "  suddenly."    Jer.  Ii.  8. 

The  spoiler  of  nations — the  proud, 
covetous,  blood-thirsty,  and  violent,  are 
to  be  destroyed  "  suddenly;"  Hab.  ii.  7. 

The  Refiner  and  Purifier  of  the  Gold 
and  the  Silv^  shall  come  "  suddenly,', 
and  who  shall  abide  the  day  of  His 
coming?  Mai.  iii.  i. 

Angels  ministered  to  the  babe  Jesus 
"  suddenly."     Luke  ii.  13. 

Jesus  was  transfigured  "  suddenly." 
i  Mark  ix.  8. 

I      Demons  possessed,  and  possess,  "sud- 
denly."    Luke  viii.  28,  33  ;  ix.  39 


[o8 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


The  Holy  Ghost  came  "  suddenly." 
Acts  ii.  2. 

Saul  of  Tarsus  was  smitten  "  sudden- 
ly."    Acts  ix.  3. 

Paul  and  Silas  in  prison  were  liberated 
"  suddenly,"  and  the  prison  gaoler  con- 
verted '  suddenly."     Acts  xvi.  26. 

This  mortal  is  to  put  on  iinmortality, 

and  we  are  to  be  changed  "  suddenly ;" 

"  in  a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an 
eye."     i  Cor.  xv.  52,  53. 

The  Master  Himself  cometh  "  sud- 
denly ;"  watch  therefore.     Mark  xiii.  36- 

He  who  testifieth  these  things  saith, 
"  I  come  quickly.  Even  so,  come,  Lord 
Jesus." 

May  the  Spirit  bless  this  retrospect, 
and  day  by  day  enable  us  all  more  de- 
votedly to  work  in  His  strength  and 
more  calmly  to  prepare  to  meet  our 
God — for  every  death-roll  tells  us  that 
old  and  young  die  "  suddenly." 

Sarah  P.  Atkinson 


BLINDNESS. 

Typical — Lev.  xxi.  18,  21 ;  xxii.  22  ; 
Deut.  XV.  21 ;  Mai.  i.  8. 

bPiRiTUAL — ^Jer.  v.  21 ;  Isaiah  xliv.  18 ; 
xxix.  10,  II ;  vi.  9,  10;  Judges  xvi.  20; 
Is.  i.  3  ;   Rom.  xi.  25 ;  2  Cor.  ii.  3, 14, 15. 

Of  the  natural  man — iCor.  ii.  14; 
2  Cor.  iv.  3,  4  ;  John  xiv.  17 ;  Acts  xxvi. 
17,  18;  Eph.  iv.  17,  18. 

Exhortation — Eph.  v.  8 ;  2  Peter  i. 

9,  10;    I  John  i.  5,  6;   ii.    9,   11;   Rev. 
iii.  17.  18. 


SIN— GOD'S   TESTIMONY 
ABOUT  IT. 

Its  Nature. — Sin  is  the  transgression 
of  the  law,  or  lawlessness,  i  John  iii.  4. 
All  unrighteousness  is  sin.    i  John  v.  17. 

Its  Origin. — ^The  devil  sinneth  from 
the  beginning,     i  John  iii.  8. 

How  it  came  into  this  World. — By  one 
•  man  sin  entered  into  the  world.  Rom. 
V.  12.  And  the  Lord  God  commanded 
the  man  saying,  Of  the  tree  of  the  know- 
ledge of  good  and  evil,  thou  shalt  not 
eat  of  it.  Gen.  iii.  16,  17.  And  he  did 
eat.     Gen.  iii.  6. 


Its  Extent — To  all  A  fen. — The  Scrip- 
tures hath  concluded  ail  under  sin. 
Gal.  iii.  22.  Both  Jews  and  Gentiles, 
they  are  all  under  sin,  as  it  is  written, 
there  is  none  righteous,  no  not  one. 
Rom.  iii.  9,  10.  There  is  no  difiference 
for  all  have  sinned.  Rom.  iii.  22,  23. 
There  is  not  a  just  man  upon  earth  that 
doeth  good  and  sinneth  not.  Ecc.  vii. 
20.  If  we  say  we  have  no  sin  we  deceive 
ourselves  and  the  truth  is  not  in  us.  i 
John  i.  8.  We  are  all  as  an  unclean 
thing  and  all  our  righteousness  are  as 
filthy  rags.     Isa.  Ixiv.  6. 

How  it  is  Revealed. — By  the  law  is  the 

knowledge  of  sin.     Rom.  iii.  20.     I  had 

not  known  sin  but  by  the  law ;  for  I 

had  not  known  lust,  except  the  law  had 

said,  Thou  shalt  not  covet.     I  was  alive 

without  the  law  once :  but    when    the 

commandment  came,  sin  revived  and  I 

died.     Rom.  vii.  7,  9.     Wherefore  the 

law  was  our  schoolmaster,  to  bring  us 

to  Christ  that  we  might  be  justified  by 
faith.     Gal.  iii.  24. 

Its  End. — The    soul  that    sinneth  it 

shall  die.     Ez.  xviii.  4.     The  wages  of 

sin  is  death.     Rom.  vi.  23.     Sin  when 

it  is  finished  bringeth  forth  death.  James 

i.  18.     Then  Jesus  said  again  unto  them 

— if  ye  believe  not  that  I  am  he  ye  shall 
die  in  your  sins.     John  viii.  21,  24. 

God  Knows  Them  All. — O  God  thou 
knowest  my  foolishness ;  my  sins  are 
not  hid  from  thee.  Psalm  Ixix.  5.  Thou 
hast  set  our  iniquities  before  thee,  our 
secret  sins  in  the  light  of  thy  counten- 
ance.    Psalm  xc.  8. 

Will  Certainly  Find  the  Sinner. — Be 
sure  your  sin  will  ifind  you  out.  Num. 
xxxii.  23.  Fools  make  a  mock  at  sin. 
Prov.  xiv.  9.  Reader,  do  you  think 
lightly  of  sin  ?  Do  you  regard  it  as  a 
little  thing  ?  Are  you  unconcerned  and  - 
careless  about  your  sin  ?  Do  you  make  a 
mock  at  it  ?  God  says  that  such  a  man  is  a 
fool.  And  viewed  in  the  light  of  the 
solemn  declarations  of  Jehovah,  no 
wonder  God  so  regards  the  man  who 
will  trifle  with  sin. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


109 


Haw  we  are  Freed  from  it. — Without 
shedding  of  blood  is  no  remission.  Heb. 
ix.  22.  The  next  day  John  seeth  Jesus 
coming  unto  him  and  saith,  Behold  the 
Lamb  of  God  which  taketh  away  the 
sin  of  the  world.  John  i.  29.  God  com- 
mendeth  his  love  toward  us  in  that 
while  we  were  yet  sinners  Christ  died 
for  us.  Rom.  v.  8.  Now  once  in  the 
end  of  the  world  hath  he  [Christ]  ap- 
peared to  put  away  sin  by  the  sacrifice 
of  himself.  So  .Christ  was  once  offered 
to  bear  the  sins  of  many.  Heb.  ix. 
26,  28.  His  own  self  bare  our  sins  in 
his  own  body  on  the  tree,  i  Peter  ii.  24. 
And  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son 
cleanseth  us  from  all  sin.  i  John  i.  7. 
Be  it  known  unto  you,  therefore,  men 
and  brethren,  that  through  this  man  is 
preached  anto  you  the  forgiveness  of 
sins,  and  by  him  all  that  beheve  are 
justified  from  all  things,  from  which 
they  could  not  be  justified  by  the  law  of 
Moses.     Acts  xiii.  38,  39. 

What  Becomes  of  the  Believer's  Sins  ? 
They  are — Forgiven — God,  for  Christ's 
sake,  hath  [not  will]  forgive  )'^ou.  Eph. 
iv.  32.  I  write  unto  you  little  children 
because  your  sins  are  [not  shall  be]  for- 
given you  for  his  name's  sake,  i  John 
ii.  12. 

Blotted  Out — I  have  blotted  out  as 
a  thick  cloud  thy  transgressions,  and,  as 
a  cloud  thy  sins.     Isa.  xliv.  22. 

Covered— Thou  hast  covered  all 
their  sin.  Psalm  Ixxxv.  2.  Blessed  is 
he  whose  transgression  is  forgiven,  whose 
sin  is  covered.     Psalm  xxxii.  i. 

Removed — As  far  as  the  east  is  from 
the  west  so  far  hath  he  removed  our 
transgressions  from  us.     Psalm  ciii,  12. 

Cast  into  the  Sea — Thou  wiit  cast 
all  their  sins  into  the  depths  of  the  sea. 
Micah  vii.  19. 

Hid — The  iniquity  of  Ephraim  is 
bound  up ;  his  sin  is  hid.     Hos.  xiii.  12. 

Behind  God's  Back — Thou  hast  cast 
all  my  sins  behind  thy  back.  Isaiah 
xxxviii.  17. 


Forgotten — I  even  I,  am  he  that 
blotteth  out  thy  transgressions  for  mine- 
own  sake,  and  will  not  remember  thy 
sins.  Isa.  xliii.  25.  And  their  sins  and 
their  iniquities  will  I  remember  no  more. 
Heb.  X.  17. 

Not  to  be  even  Mentioned  unto 
HIM — None  of  his  sins  that  he  hath 
committed  shall  be  mentioned  unto  him. 
Ez.  xxxiii.  16. 

Believer,  pondsr  these  precious  figures 
— forgiven,  blotted  out,  covered,  removed,, 
cast  into  the  sea,  hid,  behind  God's  back, 
forgotten,  not  to  be  even  mentioned.  If 
these  figures  do  not  teach  ful/,  perfect, 
complete,  and  present  salvation,  what 
language  can  teach  it. 

Conclusion. — Come  now  and  let  U3' 
reason  together,  saith  the  Lord  ;  though 
your  sins  be  as  scarlet  they  shall  be 
white  as  snow  ;  though  they  be  red  like 
crimson  they  shall  be  as  wool.  Isa.  i.  18. 


OUR  WARRANT  FOR  COMING  TO- 
CHRIST. 

1.  We  are  permitted  to  come. 
"Whosoever  will,  let  him  take  of  the 
water  of  life  freely,"  Rev.  xxii.  17;  Rev. 
xxi.  6;  Isaiah  Iv.  i. 

2.  We  are  invited  to  come.  "Come: 
unto  Me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy 
laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest."  Matt, 
xi.  28. 

3.  We  are  entreated  to  come.  "Now 
then  we  are  ambassadors  for  Christ,  as 
though  God  did  beseech  by  us :  we  pray 
in  Christ's  stead,  be  ye  reconciled  to- 
God."    2  Cor.  V.  20. 

4.  W^e  are  commanded  to  come. 
"This  is  His  commandment,  that  we 
should  believe  on  the  name  of  His  Son 

i  Jesus  Christ."     i  John  iii.  23;  Heb.xi.6, 

5.  We  are  comtfelled  to  come.  "Go 
out  into  the  highways  and  hedges,  and 
compel  them  to  come  in,  that  my  house 
may  be  filled."     Luke  xiv.  23. 

6.  We  are  assured  of  a  present  and 
certain  salvation  if  we  come.  "God  so 
loved  the  world,  that  He  gave  His  only 
begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  belie veth< 
in  Him  should  not  perish,  but  have- 
everlasting  life."  John  iii.  16;  John  vi. 
37;  John  vi.  47 :   Actsxvi.  31 ;  Rom.  iv.  s 


no 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


7.  The  sinner  will  be  lost  forever,  if 
lie  does  not  come.  "He  that  believeth 
not  shall  be  damned."  Mark  xvi.  16  ; 
John  iii.  18;  John  v.  40;  2  Thess.  i.  7,8; 
Heb.  ii.  3;  John  iii.  36.  J.H.B. 


WHY  MEN  DO  NOT  BELIEVE 
IN  CHRIST. 

Men  often  say  that  they  would  be  glad 
to  become  Christians,  but  they  can  not 
believe  the  Bible.  Belief,  they  affirm, 
is  a  matter  of  simple  reason  and  not 
subject  to  the  will.  A  man  is  no  more 
responsible  for  his  belief  than  he  is  for 
his  complexion. 

Now,  Christ  asserts  the  opposite  of 
this.  He  affirms  that  the  reason  why 
men  do  not  accept  Him,  is,  that  they 
will  not,  (John  v.  40) ;  and  that  any  man 
who  is  willing  to  serve  God,  or  to  know 
the  truth,  will  infallibly  come  to  believe 
in  Christ,  (John  vii.  17  ;  xviii.  37). 

If  now,  we  examine  the  New  Testa- 
ment more  widely,  we  shall  see  that,  in 
■every  instance,  where  men  are  represent- 
ed as  failing  to  believe  in  Christ,  it  is 
never  merely  because  their  intellect  is 
unconvinced  :  there  is  something  sinful 
either  in  heart  or  will. 

The  reasons  why  men  do  not  believe 
in  Christ  are  these  : — 

Pride,  which  may  be  national.  Matt, 
iii.  9  ;  John  viii.  33  ;  Acts  xiii,  45  ;  xvii. 
5 ;  xxii.  21,  22  ;  intellectual.  Matt.  xi.  25  ; 
John  ix.  39-41  ;  Rom.  i.  21,  22;  i  Cor. 
i.  19-21  ;  or  social,  John  vii.  48. 

Self-righteousness,  Mark  ii.  16 ;  Luke 
vii.  39 ;  xviii.  10,  14 ;  Rom.  x.  3, 

Love  of  praise,  John  v.  44 ;  xii.  43. 

Love  of  the  world,  3  Tim.  iv.  10 ; 
James  iv.  4  ;  i  John  ii.  15. 

Love  of  money,  Mark  x.  17-24;  Luke 
xvi.  13,  14 ;  I  Tim.  vi,  9,  10. 

Cares  of  the  world,  Matt.  xiii.  7,  22  , 
Luke  X.  40. 

Fear  of  man,  John  vii.  13 ;  ix.  2:1 :  xii. 
42. 

Worldly  self-interest,  Mark  v.  16.  17  ; 
John  xi.  48. 

Unwillingness  10  separate  from  im- 
penitent friends.  Luke  ix.  59-62. 


Unwillingness  to  believe  what  they  can 

not  understand,  John  iii.  9  ;  vi.  52.  60  ; 

Acts  xvii.  32  ;  i  Cor,  ii.  14. 

Unwillingness  to  have  their  sins  ex- 
posed, John  iii.  19,  20. 

Unwillingness  to  submit  to  God's 
authority,  Luke  xix.  14  ;  xx.  9-18. 

Prejudice  against  the  messenger,  Matt. 

xii.  24  ;  xiii.  57  ;  John  i.  46 ;  vi.  42  ;  vii. 
52  ;  ix.  29. 

Spiritual  blindness.  Matt.  xiii.  15  ;  i 
Cor.  ii.  14. 

Unfaithfulness  to  the  light  which  they 
had,  John  xii.  36. 

Waiting  for  a  convenient  season,  Acts 
xxiv.  25. 

Frivolous  excuses,  Luke  xiv.  18. 

Lack  of  deep  convictions,  Matt.  xiii. 
5 ;  xxii.  5. 

Lack  of  earnestness,  Luke  xiii.  24. 

Neglect  of  the  Bible,  Luke  xxiv.  25  ; 

John  V.  39  ;  vii.  27;  Acts  xvii.  11,  12. 

Neglect  of  religious  meetings,  John  xx. 
24. 

Blindness  to  special  opportunities, 
Luke  xix.  44. 

Desire  for  special  signs,  Matt.  xii.  38. 
39 ;  xvi.  1-4 ;  John  vi.  30 ;  i  Cor.  i.  ^z. 

Regard  for  human  traditions.  Matt. 
XV.  9  ;  Mark  ii.  23-28. 

Insincerity.  Matt.  xv.  7,  8  ;  xxi.  25-31  ; 
Acts  xxiv.  26. 

A  controversial  spirit,  Matt.  xxii.  15- 
40. 

A  murmuring  spirit,  Matt.  xxv.  24. 

Having  no  desire  for  God,  John  v.  43 ; 
Rom.  i.  28. 

Hatred  of  God  and  of  Christ,  John 
XV.  22-25. 

Hatred  of  the  truth,  Acts  vii.  51-54; 
2  Thess.  ii.  10-12 ;  2  Tim.  iv.  3. 

The  power  of  the  devil,  Matt.  xiii.  4, 
19  ;  John  viii.  44  ;  2  Cor.  iv.  3,  4. 

These  passages  embrace  nearly  the 
entire  teaching  of  the  word  of  God  on 
this  subject.  That  word,  which  is  "  a 
discerner  of  the  thoughts  and  intents  of 
the  heart,"  (Heb.  iv.  12),  as  truly  inter- 
prets human  nature  to-day  as  it  did  in 
the  days  of  Christ  and  the  apostles.  It 
is  not  intellectual  doubt  which  Iceeps 
men  from  believing  in  Christ :  it  is  sin 
in  the  heait.     They  are  responsible  for 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


Ill 


rejecting  the  Saviour.  The  sentence 
pronounced  in  John  iii.  36,  is  just.  We 
are  not  arguing  with  sincere  honest 
doubters,  but  with  men  who  at  heart  are 
opposed  to  Christ  and  to  God.  We 
need  in  our  arguments  to  be  possessed 
by  the  spirit  of  i  Cor.  iv.  2-5  ;  2  Tim.  i-'  • 
23-26.  E.  P.  Gardner. 


INDIVIDUAL    RESPONSIBILITY. 

Rom.  xiv.  12;  Isa.  xlv.  23;  Phil.  ii. 
do,  II;  Matt.  xii.  36 :  Gal.  vi.  4,  5  ; 
Rom.  ii.  6 ;  i  Cor.  iii.  8 ;  Job.  xxxiv. 
II  ;  Psalm  Ixii.  12;  Prov.  xxiv.  12  , 
Jar.  xvii.  10  and  32,  19  ;  i  Peter  iv.  5  ; 
Matt.  xiv.  24 .  Luke  ix,  23-26  ;  2  Cor. 
iv.  14-17;  Matt.  XXV.  31,  32;  Rev.  ii. 
23;  Rev.  XX.  12;  Rev.  xxii.  12;  Mark 
xiii.  34;  Matt,  xxv.  14-46;  Luke  xvii. 
■ID;  Ezek.  xxxiii.  i-ii. 


THE  FOOL. 

1.  His  Belief. — The  fool  has  said  in 
tiis  heart,  There  is  no  God,  Ps.  xiv.  i. 

2.  His  Walk. — The  wise  man's  eyes 
are  in  his  head,  buth  the  fool  walketh  in 
darkness.  Ecc.  ii.  14. 

3.  His  Standing  Before  God. — 
When  thou  vowest  a  vow  unto  God,  de- 
fer not  to  pay  it ;  for  he  hath  no  pleasure 
in  fools  :  pay  that  which  thou  hast  vowed . 
Ecc.  V.  4.  The  foolish  shall  not  stand  in 
thy  sight.     Ps.  v.  5. 

4.  His  Mirth. — The  heart  of  fools  is 
in  the  house  of  mirth,  Ecc.  vii.  4.  For 
as  the  crackling  of  thorns  under  a  pot,  so 
is  the  laughter  of  fools.  This  also  is 
•vanity,  Ecc.  vii.  6. 

5.  His  Food. — The  words  of  a  wise 

ahan's  mouth  are  gracious  :  but  the  lips  of 

a  fool  \yill  swallow  up  himself,  Ecc.   x. 
12. 

6.  His  House. — Every  one  that  hear- 

^th  these  sayings  of  mine,  and  doeth  them 

not,  shall  be  likened  unto  a  foolish  man, 

which  built   his   house   upon   the   sand, 
Matt.  vii.  26. 

7.  His  End, — Thou  fool  !  this  night 
'thy  soul  shall  be  required  of  thee,  Luke 
jcii.  20. 


THE  FOOL. 

HIS   PERSON, 

His  eyes  are  in  the  ends  of  the  earth, 
Prov.  xvii.  24. 

His  ears  despise  wisdom,  Prov.  xxiii.  9. 
His  mouth  smoother  than  oil,  Prov.  v. 

3. 

His  mouth  near  destruction,   Prov.  x. 

14. 

His  mouth  in  it  a  rod  of  pride,  Prov. 
xiv.  3. 

His  mouth  poureth  out  foolishness, 
Prov.  XV.  2. 

His  mouth  feedethon  foolishness,  Prov. 
XV.  14. 

His  mouth  is  his  destruction,  Prov. 
xviii.  7. 

His  mouth  calleth  for  strokes,  Prov. 
xviii.  6. 

His  lips  enter  into  contention,  Prov. 
xviii.  6, 

His  lips  swallow  up  himself,  Ecc.  x.  12. 

His  lips  are  the  snare  of  his  soul,  Prov. 
xviii.  7. 

His  tongue  flattereth,  Prov,  vi.  24. 

His  tongue  shall  be  cut  out,  Prov.  x,  31 . 

His  voice  known  by  multitude  of 
words,   Ecc.  v.  3. 

His  neck  stiff.   Ps.  Ixxv.  45, 

His  bosom,  anger  resteth  there,  Ecc. 
vii.  9, 

His  heart  saith  there  is  no  God,  Ps. 
xiv.  I. 

His  heart  fretteth  against  the  Lord, 
Prov.  xix.  3. 

His  heart  is  in  the  house  of  mirth,  Ecc. 
vii.  4. 

His  heart  is  slow  to  believe,  Luke  xxiv. 

His  hands  (passive)  folded  together, 
Ecc.  iv.  5. 

His  hands  (active)  pluck  down  the 
house,  Prov.  xiv.  i. 

His  back,  a  rod  and  stripes  prepared 
for  it,  Prov.  x.  13  ;  Prov.  xix.  29. 

His  feet  go  down  to  death,  Prov.  v.  5. 

His  steps  take  hold  on  hell,  Prov.  v.  5. 

HIS   FOOD. 

His  own  flesh,  Ecc.  iv,  5. 
His  foolishness,   Prov.  xv.  14. 
Fruit  of  his  own  way,  Prov.  i.  31. 
His  own  devices,  Prov.  i,  31. 
Ashes,  Isa.  xliv.  20. 

HIS   CHARACTER  AND   WAY. 

He  says  in  his  heart,  NO  GOD,  Psa. 
xiv.  I, 

His  way  is  right  in  his  own  eyes,  Prov. 
xii.  15. 

He  trusts  his  own  heart,  Prov.  xxviiL 
26. 


112 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


He  rageth  and  is  confident.  Prov.  xiv. 
i6. 

He  is  soon  angry,  Prov.  xiv.  17. 

He  answereth  a  matter  before  hearing 
it,  Prov.  xviii,  13. 

He  uttereth  slander;  Prov.  x,  18. 

He  uttereth  all  his  mind,  Prov.  xix.  ii. 

He  enters  into  contention,  Prov.  xviii. 
6. 

He  layeth  up  treasure  for  himself,  Luke 
xii.  21. 

.    H  e  is  not  rich  towards  God,  Luke  xii. 
21. 

He  builds  his  house  on  the  sand,  Matt. 
vii.  26. 

He  takes  a  lamp  without   oil,    Matt. 
xicv.  3. 

He  doubts  resurrection,  i  Cor.  xv.  36. 

He  is  slow  of  heart  to  believe,   Luke 
xxiv.  25. 

He  would  be  made  perfect  by  the  flesh. 
Gal.  iii.  3. 

He  despiseth  wisdom,  Prov.  xxiii.  9. 

He  despiseth  instruction,  Prov.  i.  7, 

He  despiseth  his  father's   instruction, 
Prov.  XV.  5. 

He  despiseth  his  mother,  Prov.  xv,  20. 

He  despiseth  his  own  soul,   Prov.  xv. 
32. 

Meddling,  Prov.  xx.  3. 

He  layeth  open  his  folly,  Prov.  xiii.  16. 

He  saith  to  every  one  he  is  a  fool,  Ecc, 
X,  3. 

He  hates  knowledge,  Prov.  i,  21. 

His  abomination  is  to  depart  from  evil, 
Prov.  xiii.  19. 

He  reproacheth  God  daily  ,Psa.lxxiv.22. 

Clamorous,  Prov.  ix.  13. 

Simple,  Prov,  ix.  13. 

He  knoweth  nothing,  Prov.  ix.  13. 

He  poureth  out  foolishness,  Prov.  xv.  2. 

His  father  hath  no  joy,  Prov.  xvii,  21. 

To  him  he  is  a  grief,  Prov.  xvii.  25. 

To  him  he  is  a  calamity,  Prov.  xix,  13. 

To  his  mother  he  is  a  bitterness,  Prov. 
xvii.  25. 

To  his  mother  he  is  heaviness,  Prov. 

X.   I. 

To  his  companions  he  is  destruction, 
Prov.  xiii.  20. 

HIS  PLEASURES. 

To  mock  at  sin,  Prov.  xiv.  9. 
Folly  his  joy,  Prov.  xv.  21. 
His  laughter  as  the  crackling  of  thorns 
under  a  pot,  Eccl.  vii.  6. 

Mischief  his  sport,  Prov.  x.  23. 

HtS  PROMOTION. 

Shame,  Prov.  iii.  35. 

Prosperity  shall  destroy  him,  Prov.i.32. 


HIS  INCURABLENESS. 

The  instruction  of  fools  is  folly,  Prov. 
xvi.  3. 

Though  thou  shouldst  bray  a  fool  in  a 
mortar  among  wheat  with  a  pestle,  yet 
will  not  his  foolishness  depart  from  him, 
Prov.  xxvii.  22. 

A  hundred  stripes  will  not  enter  intO' 
him,  Prov.  xvii.  10. 

HIS  END. 

He  dies  for  want  of  wisdom,  Prov.  x.  21 . 

Thou  fool  this  night  thy  soul  shall  be 
required  of  thee,  Luke  xii.  20. 

The  great  God  shall  reward  him,  Prov, 
xxvi.  10. 


PRESENT  SALVATION  FOR  YOU, 

1.  All  have  sinned,  and  come  short 
of  the  glory  of  God.  Rom.  iii.  23,  Th& 
Lord  hath  laid  on  Him  the  iniquity  of 
us  all.     Isaiah  liii.  6. 

2.  If  we  say  that  we  have  no  sin,  we 
deceive  ourselves,  and  the  truth  is  not 
in  us.  I  John  i.  8.  He  hath  made 
Him  to  be  sin  for  us,  who  knew  no 
sin  ;  that  we  might  be  made  the  right- 
eousness of  God  in  Him.     2  Cor.  v.  ^i, 

3.  When  we  were  yet  without  strength, 
in  due  time  Christ  died  for  the  ungodly. 
Rom.  v.  6.  God  commendeth  his  love 
toward  us,  in  that,  while  we  were  yet 
sinners,  Christ  died  for  us,  Rom.  v.  8. 
Who  his  own  self  bare  our  sins  in  His 
own  body  on  the  tree,  that  we,  being 
dead  to  sins,  should  live  unto  righteous- 
ness ;  by  whose  str>es  ye  were  healed. 
I  Peter  ii.  24.  He  was  wounded  for 
our  transgressions.  He  was  bruised  for 
our  iniquities  :  the  chastisement  of  our 
peace  was  upon  Him  ;  and  with  His 
stripes  we  are  healed.  Isaiah  liii.  5. 
Jesus  said,  "  It  is  finished."  John 
xix.  30. 

4.  As  Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in 
the  wilderness,  even  so  must  the  Son  of 
Man  be  lifted  up  :  That  whosoever  be- 
lieveth  in  Him  should  not  perish,  but 
have  eternal  life.  For  God  so  loved  the 
world,  that  He  gave  his  only  begotten 
Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  Him 
should  not  perish,  but  hav^  everlasting 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


1^3 


life.  John  iii.  14 — 16.  And  it  shall 
come  to  pass,  that  whosoever  shall  call 
on  the  Name  ot  the  Lord  shall  be  saved. 
Acts  ii.  21.  Whosoever  believeth  in 
Him  shall  receive  remission  of  sins. 
Acts  X.  43.  If  thou  shalt  confess  with 
thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt 
believe  in  thine  heart  that  God  hath 
raised  Him  from  the  dead,  thou  shalt 
be  saved.     Rom.  x.  9. 

5 .  This  is  his  commandment  that  we 
should  believe  on  the  Name  of  his  Son 
Jesus  Christ,  i  John  iii.  23.  He  that 
believeth  not  God  hath  made  Him  a 
liar  ;  because  he  believeth  not  the  record 
that  God  gave  of  his  Son.  i  John  v. 
10.  He  that  believeth  on  Him  is  not 
condemned  :  but  he  that  believeth  not 
is  condemned  already,  because  he  hath 
not  believed  in  the  Name  of  the  only 
begotten  Son  of  God.  John  iii.  18. 
There  is  therefore  now  no  condemnation 
to  them  which  are  in  Christ  Jesus,  who 
walk  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the 
Spirit.  Rom.  viii.  i.  As  many  as  re- 
ceived Him,  to  them  gave  he  power  to 
become  the  sons  of  God,  even  to  them 
that  believe  on  his  Name.  John  i.  12. 
Therefore  being  justified  by  faith,  we 
have  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.     Rom.  v.  i. 

6.  The  wages  of  sin  is  death  ;  but  the 
gift  of  God  is  eternal  life  through  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.  Rom.  vi.  23.  I  give 
unto  them  eternal  life;  and  they  shall 
never  perish,  neither  shall  any  man 
pluck  them  out  of  my  hand.  John  x. 
28.  He  that  believeth  on  Me  hath  ever- 
lasting life.  John  vi.  47.  These  things 
have  I  written  unto  you  that  believe  on 
the  Name  of  the  Son  of  God,  that  ye 
may  know  that  ye  have  eternal  life. 
I  John  V.  13. 

7.  If  we  confess  our  sins.  He  is  faith- 
ful and  just  to  forgive  us  our  sins,  and 
to  c:=-r.s2  us  from  all  unrighteousness. 
I  John  i.  9.  I  have  blotted  out,  as  a 
thick  cloud,  thy  transgressions,  and.  as 
a  cloud,  thy  sins :  return  unto  Me ;  for 

8 


I  have  redeemed  thee.  Isaiah  sliv,  22. 
Thou  hast  cast  all  my  sins  behind  thy 
back.  Isaiah  xxxviii.  17.  Thou  wilt 
cast  all  their  sins  into  the  depths  of  the 
sea.  Micah  vii.  19.  As  far  as  the 
east  is  from  the  west,  so  far  hath  He 
removed  our  transgressions  from  us. 
Psalm  ciii.  12.  Their  sins  and  iniquities 
will  I  remember  no  more.     Heb.  x.  17. 

8.  I  write  unto  you,  little  children, 
because  your  sins  are  forgiven  you  for 
His  Name's  sake,  i  John  ii.  12.  I  love 
them  that  love  Me ;  and  those  that  seek 
Me  early  shall  find  Me.  Proverbs  viii. 
17.  And  ye  shall  seek  Me,  and  find  Me, 
when  ye  shall  search  for  Me  with  all 
your  heart.  Jer.  xxix.  13.  Ask;  and  it 
shall  be  given  you;  seek  and  ye  shall 
find  ;  knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened  unto 
you.     Matt.  vii.  7. 

9.  Come  unto  Me,  all  ye  that  labour 
and  are  heavy  laden,  ancf  I  will  give  you 
rest.  Matt.  xi.  28.  And  let  him  that 
is  athirst  come.  And  whosoever  will, 
let  him  take  the  water  of  life  freely. 
Rev,  xxii.  17.  Jesus  said.  Suffer  little 
children  to  come  unto  Me,  and  forbid 
them  not :  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of 
God.  Luke  xviii.  16.  Him  that  cometh 
to  Me,  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out.  John 
vi.  37.  He  is  able  also  to  save  them  to  the 
uttermost  that  come  unto  God  by  Him, 
seeing  He  ever  liveth  to  make  interces' 
sion  for  them.     Heb.  vii.  25. 

10.  Fear  not :  for  I  have  redeemed 
thee,  I  have  called  thee  by  thy  name  ; 
thou  art  mine.  Isaiah  xliii.  i.  Peace 
I  leave  with  you.  My  peace  I  give  unto 
you.  John  xiv.  27.  He  hath  said,  "  I 
will  never  leave  thee,  nor  forsake  thee* 
Heb.  xiii.  5.  God  is  faithful,  who  will 
not  suffer  you  to  be  tempted  above'  that 
ye  are  able  ;  but  will  with  the  temptation 
also  make  a  way  to  escape,  that  ye  may 
be  able  to  bear  it.  i  Cor.  x.  13.  I  will 
heal  their  backsliding,  I  will  love  them 
freely.     Hosea  xiv.  4. 

11.  Come  now.  and  let  us  reason  to- 
gether,   saith  the  Lord:   though    your 


114 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall  be  as  white 
as  snow  ;  though  they  be  red  like  crim- 
son, they  shall  be  as  wool.  Isaiah  i,  i8. 
Behold,  now  is  the  accepted  time ;  be- 
hold, now  is  the  day  of  salvation.  2  Cor. 
»i.-  2.  Choose  you  this  day  whom  ye 
•vill  sei"ve.    Joshua  xxiv.  15. 


THE  BLOOD  MAKETH  AN 
ATONEMENT  FOR  THE  SOUL. 

Leviticus  xvii.  11;  Exodus  xii.  13; 
Hebrews  ix.  7,  14,  22  ;  i  John  i.  9 ;  Col. 
i.  14 ;  Ephesians  ii.  13 ;  i  Peter  i.  18, 
19 ;  Revelation  v.  9  ;  Revelation  vii.  14  ; 
Revelation  i.  5. 


THREE     GREAT     FACTS. 


man's  state  by  nature. 


God  saw  that  the  wickedness  of  man 
was  great  in  the  earth,  and  that  every 
imagination  of  the  thoughts  of  his  heart 
was  only  evil  continually.     Gen.  vi.  5. 

Behold,  I  was  shapen  in  iniquity,  and 
in  sin  did  my  mother  conceive  me. 
Psalms  li.  5. 

The  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things, 
and  desperately  wicked ;  who  can  know 
it  ?     Jer.  xvii.  9. 

From  within,  out  of  the  heart  of  men, 
proceed  evil  thoughts,  adulteries,  forni- 
cations, murders,  thefts,  covetousness, 
wickedness,  deceit,  lasciviousness,  an  evil 
eye,  blasphemy,  pride,  foolishness.  Mark 
vii.  21,  22, 

That  which  is  bom  of  the  flesh  is  flesh. 
John  iii.  6. 

The  carnal  mind  [or  rather,  the  mind 
of  the  flesh],  is  enmity  against  God;  for 
it  is  not  subject  to  the  law  of  God,  neither 
indeed  can  be.     Rom.  viii.  7. 

And  you  hath  he  quickened  who  were 
dead  in  trespasses  and  sins — and  were  by 
nature  the  children  of  wrath  even  as  others. 
Eph.  ii.  I,  2. 

man's  state  by  practice. 

They  are  all  gone  aside,  they  are 
altogether  become  filthy;  there  is  none 
that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one.  Psalms 
xiv.  3. 


There  is  not  a  just  man  upon  earth, 
that  doeth  good,  and  sinneth  not.  Ecc. 
vii.  20. 

We  are  all  as  an  unclean  thing,  and  all 
our  righteousness  are  as  filthy  rags  ;  and 
we  all  do  fade  as  a  leaf;  and  our  iniqui- 
ties, like  the  wind,  have  taken  us  away. 
Isaiah  Ixiv.  6. 

There  is  none  righteous,  no,  not  one. 
Rom.  iii.  10. 

There  is  no  difference  ;  for  all  have 
sinned,  and  come  short  of  the  glory  of 
God.     Rom.  iii.  22,  23. 

By  one  man  sin  enter**^'  into  the  world,, 
and  death  by  sin ;  and  death  passed 
upon  all  men,  for  that  all  have  sinned. 
Rom.  V.  12. 

If  we  say  that  we  have  no  sin  we 
deceive  ourselves,  and  the  truth  is  not  in 
us  ; — if  we  say  that  we  have  not  sinned, 
we  make  Him  a  liar,      i  John  i.  8,  10. 

there  must  be  a  change. 

Except  ye  be  converted,  and  become 
as  little  ckildren,  ye  shall,  not  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  heaven.     Matt,  xviii.  3. 

Except  ye  repent,. ye  shall  all  likewise 
perish.     Luke  xiii.  3, 

Except  a  man  be  born  again  [or  from 
above],  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God. 
John  iii.  3. 

The  wages  of  sin  is  death.    Rom.  vi.23. 

Cursed  is  every  one  that  continue th  not 
in  all  things  which  are  written  in  the 
book  of  the  law  to  do  them.    Gal.  iii.  10. 

Sin,  when  it  is  finished,  bringeth  forth 
death,     James  i.  15. 

He  that  committeth  sin  is  of  the  devil. 
I  John  iii.  18. 


HELL. 


IS  THERE  A  HELL  ? 

For  if  God  spared  not  the  angels  that 
sinned,  but  cast  them  down  to  hell,  2 
Peter  ii.  4. 

Her  house  is  the  way  to  hell,  going 
down  to  the  chambers  of  death,  Prov.  vii. 
27. 

The  way  of  life  is  above  to  the  wise, 


NOTES    FOR    BIDLE    READINGS. 


"5 


that  he  may  depart  from  hell  beneath, 
Prov.  XV.   24. 

But  I  will  forewarn  you  whom  ye  shall 
fear  ;  fear  Him  which,  after  he  hath  killed, 
hath  power  to  cast  into  hell,  Luke  xii.  5. 

'And  if  thy  hand  offend  thee,  cut  it  off  ; 
it  is  better  for  thee  to  enter  into  life 
maimed  than  having  two  hands  to  go  into 
hell,  Mark  ix.  43. 

Ye  serpents,  ye  generation  of  vipers  ; 
how  can  ye  escape  the  damnation  of  hell, 
Matt,  xxiii,  33. 

The  wicked  shall  be  turned  into  hell, 
and  all  the  nations  that  forget  God,  Psa. 
ix.  17. 

WHAT  KIND    OF   A   PLACE  IS  IT  ? 

The  sinners  in  Zion  are  afraid  ;  fearful- 
ness  hath  surprised  the  hypocrites,  who 
among  us  shall  dwell  with  the  devouring 
fire  !  Who  among  us  shall  dwell  with 
everlasting  burnings,  Isa.  xxxiii.  14, 

The  same  shall  drink  of  the  wine  of  the 
wrath  of  God,  which  is  poured  out  with- 
out mixture  into  the  cup  of  his  indigna- 
tion ;  and  he  shall  be  tormented  with  fire 
and  brimstone,  Rev.  xiv.  10, 

And  the  beast  was  taken,  and  with  him 
the  false  prophet  that  wrought  miracles 
before  him,  with  which  he  deceived  them 
that  had  received  the  mark  of  the  beast, 
and  them  that  worshipped  his  image. 
These  both  were  cast  alive  into  a  lake  of 
fire  burning  with  brimstone,  Rev.  xix.  20. 

And  the  devil  that  deceived  them  was 
cast  into  the  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone 
where  the  beast  and  false  prophet  are, 
and  shall  be  tormented  day  and  night  for 
€ver  and  ever  ******** 
And  death  and  hell  were  cast  into  the 
lake  of  fire.  This  is  the  second  death. 
And  whosoever  was  not  found  written  in 
the  book  of  life  was  cast  into  the  lake  of 
fire,  Rev,  xx.  10,  14,   15. 

But  the  fearful  and  unbelieving,  and 
the  abominable,  and  murderers,  and 
whoremongers,  and  sorcerers,  and  idola- 
ters, and  all  liar^  shall  have  their  place 
in  the  lalce  which  burneth   with  fire  aad 


brimstone  ;   which  is  the  second  death, 
Rev.  xxi.  8. 

The  Son  of  Man  shall  send  forth  his 
angels,  and  they  shall  gather  out  of  his 
kingdom  all  things  that  offend  and  them 
which  do  iniquity,  and  shall  .cast  them  in- 
to a  furnace  of  fire  ;  there  shall  be  wail- 
ing and  gnashing  of  teeth,  Matt.  xiii.  41, 
42. 

IS  THE  PUNISHMENT  EVERLASTING  ? 

Who  among  us  shall  dwell  with  the  de- 
vouring fire  ?  Who  among  us  shall  dwell 
with  everlasting  burnings,  Isa,  xxxiii.  14. 

And  some  of  them  that  sleep  in  the 
dust  of  the  earth  shall  awake,  some  to 
everlasting  life  and  some  to  shame  and 
everlasting  contempt,  Dan.  xii,  2. 

Whose  fan  is  in  his  hand,  and  he  will 
thoroughly  purge  his  floor  and  gather  his 
wheat  into  the  gamer  ;  but  he  will  bum 
up  the  chaff  with  unquenchable  fire.  Matt, 
iii.   12. 

And  if  thy  hand  offend  thee  cut  it  off ; 
it  is  better  for  thee  to  enter  into  life 
maimed,  than  having  two  hands  to  go  in- 
to hell,  into  the  fire  that  never  shall  be 
quenched  ;  where  their  worm  dieth  not 
and  the  fire  is  not  quenched,  Mark  ix.  43, 
44. 

Then  shall  he  say  also  unto  them  on 
the  left  hand,  Depart  from  me,  ye  accur- 
sed into  everlasting  fire,  prepared  for  the 
devil  and  his  angels.  Matt.  xxv.  41. 

Read,  also,  Luke  xvi.  22-26  inclusive. 

WHO  GO  THERE. 

The  Fool — Prov.  xv.  24.  Adulterers — 
Prov.  vii.  27.  Those  who  offend — Matt, 
xiii.  41,  42.  Those  who  fear  not  God — 
Luke  xii.  5.  Lustful  Persons — 2  Peter 
ii.  4,  ID.  Hypocrites — Isa.  xxxiii.  14. 
Pharisees — Matt."  xxiii.  33.  Wicked — 
Ps.  ix.  17.  Unbelievers,  etc. — Rev.  xxi. 
8.  Those  whose  names  are  not  in  the 
book  of  life — Rev.  xx,  15.  Whose  names 
are  in  the  book  of  life  ? — Rev.  iii.  5 . 
Who  overcome? — ^John  v.  4,  5. 

By  these  last  three  passages  we  under- 
•stand  that  all  who  reject  Christ  are  cast 
into  hell. 


IlC) 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


Neither  is  there  salvation  in  any  other  ; 
for  there  is  none  other  name  under  heaven 
given  among  men  whereby  we  must  be 
saved,  Acts  iv.  12. 

We  pra}'  that  no  one  who  ■  may  read 
this  may  be   "  cast  into  outer  darkness." 

— L.   W.  MUNHALL. 


ALL  ARE  SINNERS. 
Ecclesiastes  vii.  20  ;  Proverbs  xx.  9  ;  i 
John  i.  8  ;  Romans  iii.   9,  10,  ii,  12,  19, 


22.    2' 


Isaiah  liii.  6. 


WE  CANNOT  BE  SAVED  BY 
WORKS. 

James  ii.  10  ;  Isaiah  xliv.  6  ;  Ephe- 
sians  ii.  8,  9  ;  Romans  iv.  5  ;  Romans  iii. 
20  ;  Romans  xi.  6  ;  Romans  x.  3  ;  Acts 
xiii.  39. 


JESUS   HAS    FINISHED   THE 
W^ORK. 

John  xix.  36  ;  Hebrews  ix.  26,  28  ;    i 
John  i.  7  ;  I  Peter  iii.  18. 


BACKSLIDERS. 
Jeremiah  xiv.  7  ;  Jeremiah  ii.  9  ;  Jere- 
miah iii.  22  ;  Rosea  xiv.  1,4;  Luke  xxii. 
61,  62  :  Luke  xv.  i  to  22, 


SEVEN  SOLEMN  QUESTIONS- 


HE  IS  ABLE. 

2  Timothy  i.  12  ;  Ephesians  iii.  20  ;  2 
Corinthians  ix.  8  ;  Jude  24  ;  Philippians 
iii.  21  ;  Hebrews  vii.  25  ;  Daniel  iii.  17  ; 
Hebrews  ii.  18;  Romans  xiv.  4 ;  Acts  xx« 
32  ;  Matthew  ix.  28. 


FEAR  NOT. 

John  xiv.  I,  27  ;  Isaiah  U.  12  ;  Isaiah 
xii.  10,  13,  14  ;  Deuteronomy  xxxi.  8  ; 
Joshua  i.  9  ;  Psalm  xxvii.  i  ;  Psalm  iii. 
6  ;  Psalm  Ivi.  3,  4. 


DOOR  OF  MERCY  NOT   ALWAYS 
OPEN. 

Luke  xiii.  25,  27  ;  2  Corinthians  vi.  2  j 
Proverbs  i.  24  to  the  end  ;  Jeremiah  viii, 
20. 


WHO  ARE  INVITED. 

Matthew  xi.  28  ;  Isaiah  Iv,  i  ;  Revel- 
ation XX.  17  ;  Matthew  x.  12,  13  j  Mat- 
thew xxii.  9,  10  ;  Luke  xiv.  21,  22,  23  ; 
John  vii.  37. 


GOD  WILL  KEEP  YOU. 

John  X.  28  ;  Jude  24  ;  2  Timothy  i.  12  ; 
2  Corinthians  xii.  9  ;  Philippians  i,  6. 


PEACE  WITH  GOD. 

Job.  xxii.  21  ;  Colossians  i.  20;  Ephe- 
sians ii.  14,  17  ;  Romans  v.  i. 


WHAT  IS  SIN  ? 

Proverbs  xxiv.  9  ;  i  John  iii.  4  ;  Mat- 
tnew  xii.  36  ;  James  iv.  17  ;  Proverbs  x, 
ip  ;  Proverbs  xiv.  9  ;  Numbers  xxxii.  23  j 
Ezekiei  xvui.  4. 


r.^WHOM  AM  I  TO  BELIEVE  ? 

If  it  seem  evil  unto  you  to  serve  the 
Lord,  choose  you  this  day  whom  ye  will 
serve,  Josh.  xxiv.  15. 

How  long  halt  ye  between  two  opin- 
ions ?  if  the  Lord  be  God,  follow  him  : 
but  if  Baal,  then  follow  him,  i  Kings 
xviii.  21. 

All  nations  before  him  are  as  nothing  ; 
and  they  are  counted  to  him  less  than 
nothing,  and  vanity.  To  whom  theQ 
will  ye  liken  God?     Isa.  xi.  17,  i8. 

Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye  saved,  all  the 
ends  of  the  earth ;  for  I  am  God,  and 
there  is  none  else,  Isa.  xiv.  22. 

And  the  Father  himself,  which  hath 
sent  me,  hath  borne  witness  of  me,  John 

V.  37. 

If  I  do  not  the  works  of  my  Father, 
believe  me  not.  But  if  I  do,  though  ye 
believe  not  me,  believe  the  works  :  that 
ye  may  know  and  believe,  that  the 
Father  is  in  me,  and  I  in  him,  John  x» 

37.  38. 

If  we  receive  the  witness  of  men,  the 
witness  of  God  is  greater :  for  this  is  the 
witness  of  God,  which  he  hath  testified 
of  his  Son.  He  that  believeth  on  the 
Son  of  God  hath  the  witness  in  himself; 
he  that  believeth  not  God  hath  made 
him  a  liar  ;  because  he  believeth  not  the 
record  (witness)  that  God  gave  of  his 
Sou,  I  John  v.  9,  10. 

ir. — WHAT  AM  I  TO  BELIEVE  ? 

God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gavtt 
his  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoeveir 
believeth  in  him  should  not  perish,  but 
have  everlasting  life,  John  iii.  16, 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE   READINGS. 


117 


He  that  heareth  my  word,  and  be- 
lieveth  on  him  that  sent  me,  hath  ever- 
lasting life,  and  shall  not  come  into 
<;Qndemnation  ;  but  is  passed  from  death 
unto  life,  John  v.  24. 

To  him  give  all  the  prophets  vi^itness, 
that  through  his  name  whosoever  be- 
lieveth  in  him  shall  receive  remission  of 
sins.  Acts  X.  43. 

Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
thou  shalt  be  saved,  and  thy  house, 
Acts  xvi.  31. 

God  commendeth  his  love  toward  us, 
in  that,  while  we  were  yet  .  sinners, 
Christ  died  for  us,  Rom.  v.  8. 

The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son 
<:leanseth  us  from  all  sin,  i  John  i.  7. 

And  this  is  the  record  [witness] ,  that 
-God  hath  given  to  us  eternal  life,  and 
this  life  is  in  his  Son.  He  that  hath 
the  Son  hath  life ;  and  he  that  hath  not 
the  Son  of  God,  hath  not  life,  i  John  v. 
II,  12. 

III. — HOW  AM  I  TO  BELIEVE  ? 

See,  here  is  water  ;  what  doth  hinder 
me  to  be  baptized  ?  And  Phillip  said. 
If  thou  believest  with  all  thine  heart, 
thou  mayest.  And  he  answered  and 
said,  I  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the 
Son  of  God,  Acts  viii.  36,  37. 

To  him  that  worketh  not,  but  believeth 
on  him  that  justifieth  the  ungodly,  his 
faith  is  counted  for  righteousness,  Rom. 
iv.  5. 

Ye  have  obeyed  from  the  heart  that 
form  of  doctrine  which  was  delivered 
you,  Rom.  vi.  17. 

If  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth 
the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt  believe  in 
thine  heart  that  God  hath  raised  him 

from   the  dead,   thou   shalt    be  saved, 
Rom  X.  9. 

Knowing  that  a  man  is  not  justified 
by  the  works  of  the  law,  but  by  the  faith 
of  Jesus  Christ,  even  we  have  believed 
in  Jesus  Christ,  that  we  might  be  justi- 
fied by  the  faith  of  Christ,  and  not  by 
the  works  of  the  law  ;  for  by  the  works 

of  the  law  shall  no  flesh  be  justified, 
Gal.  ii.  if). 


By  grace  are  ye  saved  through  faith  ; 
and  that  not  of  yourselves  ;  it  is  the  gift 
of  God.— Eph.  ii.  8. 

Hereby  we  know  that  he  abideth  in 
us,  by  the  Spirit  which  he  hath  given  ns, 
— I  John  iii.  24, 

IV. — WHY  AM  I  TO  BELIEVE  ? 

He  that  believeth  not  shall  be  damn- 
ed.—Mark  xvi.  16. 

He  that  believeth  on  him  is  not  con- 
demned: but  he  that  believeth  not  is 
condemned  already,  because  he  hath 
not  believed  in  the  name  of  the  only 
begotten  Son  of  God. — ^John  iii.  18. 

He  that  believeth  not  the  Son  shall 
not .  see  life ;  but  the  wrath  of  God 
abideth  on  him. — John  iii.  36. 

This  is  the  work  of  God,  that  ye 
believe  on  him  whom  He  hath  sent. — 
John  vi.  29. 

The  Lord  Jesus  shall  be  revealed  from 
heaven  with  his  mighty  angels,  in  flam- 
ing fire  taking  vengeance  on  them  that 
know  not  God,  and  that  obey  not  the 
gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. — 2 
Thess.  i.  7,  8. 

This  is  his  commandment.  That  we 
should  believe  on  the  name  of  his  Son 
Jesus  Christ. — i  John  iii.  23. 

The  fearful,  and  unbelieving,  and  the 
abominable,  and  murderers,  and  whore- 
mongers, and  sorcerers,  and  idolaters, 
and  all  liars,  shall  have  their  part  in  the 
lake  which  burneth  with  fire  and  brim- 
stone :  which  is  the  second  death.— Rev, 
xxi,  8. 

v. — WHEN  AM  I  TO  BELIEVE  ? 

Come  :  for  all  things  are  now  ready. — 
Luke  xiv.  17. 

Behold,  now  is  the  accepted  time; 
behold,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation. — 2 
Cor.  vi.  2. 

For  yourselves  know  perfectly  that 
the  day  of  the  Lord  so  cometh  as  a 
thief  in  the  night. — i  Thess.  v.  2. 

Wherefore  as  the  Holy  Ghost  saith, 
To-day  if  ye  will  hear  his  voice,  harden 
not  your  hearts. — Heb.  iii.  7,  8, 

For  yet  a  little  while,  and  he  that 


it8 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE. READINGS. 


shall  come  will  come,  and  will  not  tarry. 
— Heb.  X.  37. 

Behold,  the  judge  standeth  before  the 
door. — James  v.  9. 

He  which  testifieth  these  things  saith, 
Surely  I  come  quickly. — Rev.  xxii.  20. 

VI. — MAY  I  BELIEVE  AS  I  AM  ? 

Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labour  and 
are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest. 
—Matt.  xi.  28. 

The  Son  of  man  is  come  to  seek  and 

to  save  that  which  was  lost. — Luke  xix. 
10. 

Him  that  cometh  unto  me  I  will  in  no 
wise  cast  out. — ^John  vi,  37. 

If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto 
me,  and  drink.^John  vii.  37. 

Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law  for  right- 
eousness to  every  one  that  believeth. — 
Rom.  X.  4. 

This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy 
of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ  Jesus 
came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners  •  of 
whom  I  am  chief. — ^^i  Tim.  i.  15. 

Whosoever  will,  let  him  take  the 
water  of  life  freely. — Rev.  xxii.  17. 

VII. —  CAN  I    BE  SAVED  WITHOUT  BELIEV- 
ING? 

Neithet  is  there  salvation  in  any  other ; 

for  there    is    none  other  name  under 

heaven  given  among  men,  whereby  we 

must  be  saved.— Acts  iv.  12. 

Whatsoever  is  not  of  faith  is  sin. — 
Rom.  xiv.  23. 

If  righteousness  come  by  the  law,  then 
Christ  is  dead  in  vain. — Gal.  ii.  21. 

If  there  had  been  a  law  given  which 
could  have  given  life,  verily  righteous- 
ness should  have  been  by  the  law.. — Gal. 
iii.  21. 

How  shall  we  escape,  if  we  neglect  so 
great  salvation. — Heb.  ii.  3. 

But  without  faith  it  is  impossible  to 
please  him. — Heb.  xi.  6. 

The  time  is  come  that  judgment  must 

begin   at  the  house  of  God:    and  if  it 

first  begin  at  us,  what  shall  the  end  be 

of    them  that  obey  not  the  gospel   of 

God  ?     And  if  the  righteous  scarcely  be 

saved,    where    shall    the   ungodly   and 

sinner  appear  ? — i  Peter  iv.  17,  18. 


TWELVE  GREAT  FACTS. 

"Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away,  but 

my  words  shall  not  pass  away." — 

Matt.  XXV.  35. 

I. — man's  state  by  nature. 

God  saw  that  the  wickedness  of  man 
was  great  in  the  earth,  and  that  every 
imagination  of  the  thoughts  of  his  heart 
was  only  evil  continually — Gen.  vi.  5. 

Behold  I  was  shapen  in  iniquity,  and 
in  sin  did  my  mother  conceive  me. — Ps. 
Ii.  5. 

The  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things, 
and  desperately  wicked  :  who  can  know 
it  ? — ^Jer.  xvii.  9. 

From  within,  out  of  the  heart  of  men, 
proceed  evil  thoughts,  adulteries,  forni- 
cations, murders,  thefts,  covetousness» 
wickedness,  deceit,  lasciviousness,  an 
evil  eye,  blasphemy,  pride,  foolishness. 
— Mark  vii.  21,  22. 

That  which  is  born  of  the  flesh  is  flesh. 
— ^John  iii.  6. 

The  carnal  mind  [or  rather,  the  mind 
of  the  flesh]  is  enmity  against  God  :  for 
it  is  not  subject  to  the  law  of  God, 
neither  indeed  can  be. — Rom.  viii.  7. 

And  you  hath  he  quickened  who  were 
dead  in  trespasses  and  sins — and  were 
by  nature  the  children  of  wrath  even  as 
others. — Eph.  ii.  i,  2. 

II. — man's  state  by  PRACTICE. 

They  are  all  gone  aside,  they  are  all 
together  become  filthy ;  there  is  none 
that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one. — Ps.  xiv.  3. 

There  is  not  a  just  man  upon  earth„ 
that  doeth  good,  and  sinneth  not. — EccL 
vii.  20. 

We  are  all  as  an  unclean  thing,  and 

all  our  righteousness  are  as  filthy  rags ; 

and  we  all  do  fade  as  a  leaf ;  and  our 

iniquities,  like  the  wind,   have  taken  us 

away. — Isa.  Ixiv.  6. 

There  is  none  righteous,  no,  not  one. 
— Rom.  iii,  10. 

There  is  no  difference  ;  for  all  have 
sinned,  and  come  short  of  the  glory  of 
God. — Rom.  iii,  22.  23. 

By  one  man  sin  entered  into  the  world, 
i  and  death  by  sin  ;  and  so  death  passed 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


Jig 


upon  all  nien,  for  that  all  have  sinned. — 
jRom.  V.  12. 

If  we  say  that  we  have  no  sin,  we  de- 
ceive ourselves,  and  the  truth  is  not  in 
us  ; — if  we  say  that  we  have  not  sinned, 
we  make  him  a  liar. — i  John  i.  8,  lo. 

III.  THERE  MUST  BE  A  CHANGE. 

Except  ye  be  converted,  and  become 
as  little  children,  ye  shall  not  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  heaven. — Matt,  xviii.  3. 

Except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all  likewise 
perish. — Luke  xiii.  3. 

Except  a  man  be  bom  again  [or  from 
above] ,  he  can  not  see  the  kingdom  of 
God. — John  iii.  3. 

The  wages  of  sin  is  death. — Rom.  vi. 
23. 

Cursed  is  every  one  that  continueth 
not  in  all  things  which  are  written  in  the 
book  of  the  law  to  do  them. — Gal.  iii. 
10. 

Sin  when  it  is  finished,  bringeth  forth 
death. — ^Jamesi.  11;. 

He  that  committeth  sin  is  of  the  devil. 
— I  John  iii.  8. 

IV.  god's   THOUGHTS   OF   MAN. 

As^I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God,  I  have 
no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  the  wicked  ; 
but  that  the  wicked  turn  from  his  way 
and  live.     Eze.  xxxiii.  11. 

God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave 
his  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever 
believeth  in  Him  should  not  perish,  but 
have  everlasting  life.     John  iii.  16. 

God  commendeth  his  love  towards 
us,  in  that  while  we  were  yet  sinners, 
Christ  died  for  us.     Rom.  v.  8. 

God  our  Saviour,  who  will  have  all 
men  to  be  saved,  and  to  come  unto  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth,    i  Tim.  ii.  3,  4. 

The  grace  of  God  that  bringeth  sal- 
vation hath  appeared  to  ail  men.  Titus 
ii.  II. 

The  Lord — is  long-suffering  to  us- 
ward,  not  willing  that  any  should  perish, 
but  that  all  should  come  to  repentance. 
2  Pet.  iii.. 9.  I 

Herein    is  love,    not  that    we  loved  j 
God,  but  that  he  loved  us,  and  sent  his  Sea  i 


to   be    the  propitiation   for  our  sins.    .  1 
John  iv.  10. 

V.     Christ's  work  for  man. 
He  was  wounded    for    our  transgres- 
sions, he  was  bruised  for  our  iniquities  : 
the  chastisement  of  our  peace  was  upon 

him  ;  and  with  his  stripes  we  are  healed. 
Isa.  liii,  5. 

The  Son  of  Man  came  not  to  be  min- 
istered unto,  but  to  minister,  and  to  give 
his  life  a  ransom  for  many.  Matt.  xx.  28. 

When   we  were  yet  without  strength, 

in  due  time  Christ  died  for  the  uneodlv. 
Rom.  v.  7,  s      J 

Christ  died  for  our  sins  according  to 
the  Scriptures,     i  Cor.  xv.  31. 

He  hath  made  him  to  be  sin  for  us, 
who  knew  no  sin  :  that  we  might  be 
made  the  righteousness  of  God  in  him. 
2  Cor.  V.  21. 

Christ  hath  redeemed  us  from  the 
curse  of  the  law,  being  made  a  curse  for 
us.     Gal.  iii.  13, 

Who  his   own  self  bare  our  sins  in  his 
own  body  on  the  tree,     i  Pet.  ii.  24. 
VI.   VALUE  OF  Christ's  blood. 

When  I  see  the  blood,  I  will  pass 
over  you,  and  the  plague  shall  not  be 
upon  you  to  destroy  you.     Ex.  xii.  13. 

It  is  the  blood  that  maketh  an  atone- 
ment for  the  soul.     Lev.  xvii.  1 1 . 

This  is  my  blood  of  the  new  testa- 
ment, which  is  shed  for  many  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins.     Matt.  xxvi.  28. 

In  whom  we  have  redemption  through 
his  blood.     Eph.  i.  7. 

Ye  were  not  redeemed  with  corrup- 
tible things — but  with  the  precious  blood 
of  Christ.     I  Pet.  i.  18,  19. 

The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son 
cleanseth  us  from  all  sin.     i  John  i.  7. 

Thou  wast  slain,  and  hast  redeemed 
us  to  God  by  thy  blood.     Rev.  v.  9. 

VII.   Christ's  invitations  to  sinners. 

Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor  and 
are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest. 
Matt.  xi.  28. 

Come,  for  all  things  are  now  ready. 
Luke  xiv.  17. 


I20 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


.S.J  that  the  Father  giveth  me  shall 
come  to  me  ;  and  him  that  cometh  to  me 
I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out.     John  vi.  37. 

If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come  mito 
me  anddrink.     John  vii.  37. 

I  am .  the  door  :  by  me,  if  any  man 
enter  in,  he  shall  be  saved.      John  x.  9. 

I  will  give  unto  him  that  is  athirst  of 
the  fountain  of  the  water  of  life  freely. 
Rev.  xxi.  6, 

Whosoever  will,  let  him  take  the 
water  of  life  freely.     Rev.  xxii.  17. 

VIII.     WHAT  CHRIST   IS  ABLE   TO   DO. 

He  is  able  also  to  save  them  to  the  utter- 
most that  come  unto  God  by  him.  Heb. 
vii.  25. 

He    is    able  to  succor  them  that  are 

tempted.     Heb.  ii.  18. 

He  is  able  to  keep  that  which  I  have 

committed  unto  him  against  that  day.   2 
Tim.  i.  12. 

Being  fully    persuaded  that,    what  he 

had  promised,  he  was  able  also  to  per- 
foim.     Rom.  iv.  21. 

He  is  able  to  make  all  grace  abound 
towaid  you.     2  Cor.  ix.  8. 

He  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abundant- 
ly above  all  that  we  ask  or  think.  Eph. 
iii.  20. 

He  is  able   to  keep   you  from  falling, 

and  to  present  you  faultless  before   the 

presence  of  his  glory  with  exceeding  joy. 
Jude  24. 

IX.     HOW  TO   BE   SAVED. 

He  that  believeth  on  him  is  not  con- 
demned.    John  iii.  18. 

He  that  believeth  on  the  Son  hath 
everlasting  life.     John  iii.  36. 

To  him  give  all  the  prophets  witness, 
that  through  his  name  whosoever  believ- 
eth in  him  shall  receive  remission  of 
sins.     Acts  x.  43. 

By  him  all  that  beli'^ve  are  justified 
from  all  things.     Acts  xiii.  39. 

Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  thou  shalt  be  saved.     Acts  xvi.  31. 

To  him  that  worketh  not,  but  be- 
lieveth on  him  that  justifieth  the  ungodly, 
his  faith  is  counted  for  righteousness. 
Rom.  iv.  5. 


If  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth 
the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt  believe  in  thine 
heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  from  the 
dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved.     Rom.  x.  9. 

X.     HOW    TO   BE   LOST    FOREVER. 

He  that  believeth  not  shall  be  damn- 
ed.    Mark  xvi.   16. 

He  that  believeth  not  is  condemned 
already,  because  he  hath  not  believed  in 
the  name  of  the  only  begotten  Son  of 
God.     John  iii.  18. 

He  that  believeth  not  the  Son  shall 
not  see  life  ;  but  the  wrath  of  God  abid- 
eth  on  him.     John  iii.   36. 

Ye  will  not  come  to  me,  that  ye  might 
have  life.     John  v.  40. 

If  ye  believe  not  that  I  am,  ye  shall 
die  in  your  sins.     John  viii.  14. 

In  flaming  fire  taking  vengeance  on 
them  that  know  not  God,  and  that  obey 
not  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
2  Thess.  i,  8. 

How  shall  we  escape,  if  we  neglect 
so  great  salvation.     Heb.  ii.  3. 

XI.     HOW  WE   MAY   KNOW  WE  ARfc 
SAVED. 

He  that  heareth  my  word,  and  be- 
lieveth on  him  that  sent  me,  hath  ever- 
lasting life,  and  shall  not  come  into  con- 
demnation [judgment]  ;  but  is  passed 
fron  death  unto  life.    John  v.  24. 

Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you.  He 
that  believeth  on  me  HATH  everlasting 
life.     John  vi.  47. 

This  is  the  will  of  him  that  sent  me, 
that  every  one  which  seeth  the  Son,  and 
believeth  on  him,  may  have  everlasting 
life  ;  and  I  will  raise  him  up  at  the  last 
day.     John  vi.  40. 

I  give  unto  them  eternal  life  ;  and  they 
shall  never  perish,  neither  shall  any  pluck 
them  out  of  my  hand.     John  x.  28. 

Hereby  we  know  that  he  abideth  in 
us,  by  the  Spirit  which  he  hath  given 
us.     I  John  iii.  10. 

And  we  have  known  and  believed  the 

love  that  God  hath  to  us,      i  Johniv.  16. 

These  things  have  I  written  unto  you 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


121 


that  believe  on  the  name  of  the  Son  of 
<k)d  ;  that  ye  may  know  that  ye  have 
•eternal  life. — i  John  v.  13. 

XII.      NO   TIME  TO   BE   LOST. 

My  Spirit  shall  not  always  strive  with 
«ia;i.     Gen.  vi.  3. 

Boast  not  thyself  of  to-morrow ;  for 
sthou  knowest  not  what  a  day  may  bring 
forth.     Prov.  xxvii.  i. 

If  we  tarry  till  the  morning  light,  some 

ffliischief  will  come  upon  us.  2  Kings 
vii.  9. 

Therefore  be  ye  also  ready  :  for  in  such 

an  hour  as  ye  think  not,  the  Son  of  Man 

icometh.     Matt.  xxiv.  44. 

Behold,  now  is  the  accepted  tinie  ;  be- 


hold, now  is  the  day  of  salvation.     2  Cor. 
vi.  2. 

As  the  Holy  Ghost  saith.  To-day  if  ye 
will  hear  His  voice,  harden  not  your 
hearts.     Heb.  iii,  7,  8. 

The  time  is  at  hand.     Rev.  xxii.  10. 
The  Truth. 


CARELESS  ONE. 
Ecc.  xi.  9  ;  Num.   xxxii,  23  ;  Pro.  xii. 
14  ;  Rom.   vi.    23  ;  Acts  iii,    19  ;  Matt, 
xviii.   23  ;  Psa.   ix.    ij  ;    Acts  xvii,  30  ; 
I  Thess.  i.  7  ;  Matt.  xxv.  41. 


BACKSLIDER. 
Jer.  ii.  2  ;  Rev.   ii.  4  ;  Prov.  xiv.  14  ; 
Jer,  iii.   2  ;  Hosea  xiv.  4 ;  Rev.  iii.  20  ; 
I  John  i.  9  ;  I  John  ii.  i ;  Luke  xv.  18-20. 


^^t  Maxts  oi  (Snir  mtj  il^t  ^duiitt. 


CLING  TO  THE  MIGHTY  ONE. 

Cling  to  the  Mighty  One,  Psa.  lxxxix.19. 

Cling  in  thy  grief,  Heb.  xii.  II. 

Cling  to  the  Holy  One,  Heb,  i.  12. 

He  gives  relief,  Ps.  cxvi.  9. 

Cling  to  the  Gracious  One,  Ps.  cxvi.  5. 

Cling  in  thy  pain,  Ps.  v,  4. 

Cling  to  the  1-  aithful  One,  i  Thess. 


V. 


.24. 


He  will  sustain,  Ps.  xxviii.  8. 

Cling  to  the  Living  One,  Heb.  vii.  25. 

Cling  in  thy  woe,  Ps.  Ixxxvi.  7. 
Cling  to  the  Living  One,  i  John  iv.  16. 
Through  all  below,  Rom.  viii.  38,  39. 
Cling  to  the  Pardoning  One,  Isa.  iv.  7. 
He  speaketh  peace,  John  xiv.  27. 
Cling  to  the  Healing  One,  Ex.  xv.  26. 
Anguish  shall  cease,  Ps.  cxlvii.  3. 
Cling  to  the  Bleeding  One,  I  John  i.  7. 
Cling  to  His  Side,  John  xx.  27, 
Cling  to  the  Risen  On'",  Rom.  vi.  9. 
In  Him  abide,  John  xv.  4. 
-Cling  to  the  Coming  One,  Rev.  xxii.  20. 
Hope  shall  arise,  Titus  li.  13. 
Chng  to  the  Reigning  One,  Ps.  xlvii.  i. 
Joy  lights  thine  eyes.  Psalm  xvi.  1 1 . 


CHRISTIAN    WORK. 

THE    lord's    command. 

"  Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach 
the  Gospel  to  every  creature."  Mark 
xvi.  15. 

THE   APPEAL. 

**Who  will  go  for  us  ?"     Isaiah  vi.  8. 

THE   PROMISE. 

"  There  is  no  man  that  hath  left  house, 
or  brethren,  or  sisters,  or  father,  or  moth- 
er, or  wife,  or  children,  or  lands,  for  My 
sake  and  the  Gospel's,  but  he  shall  re- 
ceive an  hundredfold  in  this  life."  Mark 
xi.  29. 

THE     ANSWERS. 

'*  I  have  bought  a  piece  of  ground — I 
pray  thee  have  me  excused." 

' '  I  have  bought  five  yoke  of  oxen — I 
pray  thee  have  me  excused." 

' '  I  have  married  a  wife — therefore  I 
cannot  come."     Luke  xiv.  18-20. 

THE     MESS.A.GE. 

"  Behold,  I  come  quickly,  and  My  re- 
ward is  with  Me,  to  give  to  every  man 
according  as  his  work  shall  be."  Rev. 
xxii.  12. 


122 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


CHRISTIAN   WORK. 

Commission.  2  Cor.  v.  20. 
Messsenger,   Rev.   xxii.  17. 
Conditions  first  fed,  John  xxi.  15,  1 7. 
Motive,  2  Cor.  v.  14. 
Field,  Matt.  xxv.  40. 
Responsibility,    Hcb.    xiii,    17  ;  Matt, 
xxv.  28-30. 

Strength,  2  Cor.  iii.  5  ;  Phil.  iv.  13. 
Our  Instrument,  2  Tim.  ii.  15. 
Our  Success,  Psa,  cxxvi.  6, 

W.   R. 


WORKERS'  TICKET. 

Daniel   xii.    3  ;    Jeremiah  xxiii.  28, 

29. The    bearer    is    expected    to    be 

present  with  a  Bible,  at  gospel  meet- 
ings, and  to  watch  during  the  preach- 
ing for  persons  interested,  and  at  close  of 
meeting  to  seek  personal  conversation 
with  such,  and  to  show  them  from  God's 
Word  the  way  of  salvation. 

References  for  this  purpose  : 

Isaiah  liii.  6  ;  John  iii.  16  ;  John  v. 
24  ;  John  vi.  37  ;  Acts  X.  43  ;  Acts  xiii. 
38,  39  ;  Romans  iv.  6,  7,  22-25  j  Rom- 
ans V.  I,  6-10  ;  Romans  viii.  I  ;  i  Cor- 
inthians XV.  1-4;  2  Corinthians  v.  18-21  ; 
Galatians  iii.  10-13  ;  i  Timothy  i.  15  ;  i 
Peter  ii.  24  ;  I  John  v.  9-13  ;  i  John  iv. 
9,  10,  19,  and  any  other  portion  of  the 

Word  to  which  you  may  be  led. 

D.  L.  M. 


ON   SPEAKING   AND    WORKING. 

I  cannot  speak,  I  am  a  child,  &c. — ^Jer. 
i.  6,  7. 

Be  not  afraid  but  speak, — Acts  xviii.  9, 
10. 

Be  strong,  work  for  I  am  with  you. — 
Haggai  ii.  4. 

Go  and  I  will  be  with  thy  mouth. — 
Exodus  iv.  12. 

Out  of  weakness  became  strong. — He- 
brews xi.  3-34. 

Your  faith  Ijut  in  the  power  of  God. — 
I  Corinthians  ii.  5. 

It  is  not  ye  that  speak. — Matthew  x.20. 

Christ  speaking  in  me. — 2  Cor.  xiii.  3. 

Thou  shalt  talk,  &c. — Deut.  vi.  7- 

We  are  ambassadors  for  Christ. -2  Cor- 
inthians v.  20. 

Workers  together  with  Him. — 2  Cor- 
inthians VI.  I. 

Causeb  us  to  triumph. — 2  Cor.  ii.  14. 

If  thou  shalt  confess,  &c. — Romans  x.9. 

Whosoever  therefore,  &c. — Matthew  x. 
32,  33  ;  Mark  viii.  38. 


CHRISTIAN   WORK. 

Matt.  xiii.  38  ;  Gal.  vi.  10  ;  John  iv. 
35  ;  Matt.  ix.  37  ;  2  Cor.  vi.  i  ;  i  Cor.  i. 
9  ;  Matt.  XX.  6-7  ;  Mark  vi.  41  ;  xiii.  34  ^ 
Matt.  xxv.  14  ;  Eccl,  ix.  10 ;  John  ix.  4, 
I  Cor.  XV.  58  ;  Acts  x.  38  ;  Luke  vi.  4.0 ; 
John  xvii.  4  ;  Acts  ix.  6  ;  Isa.  vi.  8  ; 
Psalms  cxxvi.  6  ;  John  iv.  36  ;  Dan.  xii. 
3  ;  James  v.  20  :  2  Cor.  ix.  8. 

H.  B.  C. 


BIBLE   STUDIES  FROM  A  SCRIP- 
TURE  TEXT   BOOK   ON  GOS- 
PEL WORK.  * 


I,      THE   WORK. 

The  work  of  the  Christian  in  reaching; 
and  saving  men,  is,  under  the  Holy  Spirit,, 
to  make  known  to  them  the  finished  work 
that  God  has  wrought  in  Christ  for  their 
salvation.  The  Scripture  truth  to  be 
taught  will  be  found  in  full  in  a  compan- 
ion pamphlet.  The  following  outline^ 
however,  is  given  to  show  the  general 
character  of  the  work  to  be  done. 

The  worker  is  to  declare  (i  Cor.  ii,  i.) 

7 he  testimony  of  God. — That  all  the 
world  is  guilty  before  God .  Rom.  iii,  19. 

That  God  is  not  willing  that  any  should 
perish.   2  Pet.   iii,  9. 

That  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he 
gave  his  only-begottai  Son,  that  whoso- 
ever believeth  in  Him  should  not  perish^ 
but  have  everlasting  life.  John  iii,  16. 

That  Christ  has  borne  our  sins  in  his- 
own  body  on  the  tree.  I  Pet.  ii,  24. 

That  it  is  through  him  the  forgiveness 
of  sins  is  preached.  Acts  xiii,  38. 

That  God  now  commands  all  meik 
everywhere  to  repent.  Acts  xvii,  30. 

That  the  benefits  of  Christ's  death  are  re- 
ceived through  repentance  toward  God 
and  faith  toward  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ- 
Acts  XX,  21. 

That,  thus  believing  in  Christ,  the  sinner 
is  at  once  saved.  Acts  xvi,  31.  John  v,. 
24. 


*    Gospel  Work  published  by  American 
Tract  Society,       i       r 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


123 


II.      THE  WORKER. 
TTie  beliei)er  is  the  worker. — God's  work 
in   Christ   comes  first.       The  believer's 
work  is  in  and  from  Him. 

Separated  before  sent.  John  xvii,  16, 
18. 

Communion  before  testimony.  John 
XV,  27.  Acts  iv,  13,  20.  I  John  i,  1-3. 

Loving  Christ  before  teaching  others. 
John  xxi,  15-17. 

Preaching  is  being  a  witness.  Acts  i,  8, 
21,  22.  Acts  v,  32. 

Saul  believed,  and  "straightway  he 
preached  Christ".  Acts  ix,  20  ;  John  i, 
41,  45  ;  iv,  28,  29. 

Ministry  is  received  from  the  Lord 
Jesus.  Acts  XX,  24. 

The  method  of  the  law — doing  that 
one  may  live — fails.  Zeal  without  know- 
ledge sets  aside  God's  work  in  Christ. 
Rom.  X,  1-5. 

The  method  of  the  gospel — life  that 
one  may  do — puts  Christ's  work  first, 
and  is  God's  order.  Rom.  x,  6-17. 

The  Word  of  God.  Believing  witn  the 
heart.  Confession  with  the  mouth.  6-10 
Hearing.  Calling  upon  his  name.*  Sent 
to  preach.    11-17. 

Gifts  for  service  flow  from  bein^  mem- 
bers in  the  body  of  Christ.  Rom.  xii,  3-8. 
Eph.  iv,  7,  II,  12. 

God  pours  from  filled  vessels.  Rom.  xv, 
29;  2  Cor.  iv.  7. 

Receiving  and  knowing  before  speaking 
and  teaching.  I  Cor.  ii,  9-13. 

God's  co-workers.  I  Cor.  iii,  5-9.  2  Cor, 
vi,  I.       . 

Jesus  Christ,  the  foundation,  i  Cor.  iii, 

lO-II. 

Our  sufficiency  is  of  God.  2  Cor.  ii,  14- 17 ; 
iii,  5-6. 

Enlightened  before  giving  light.  2  Cor. 
4-6. 

Believing  and  knowing,  therefore 
speaking.  2  Cor.  iv.  13-14. 

Knowing  our  acceptance,  therefore 
laboring  tQ  be  acceptable.  2  Cor.  v.  i,  5, 
6,  9  (Eph.  i,  6-7.)  The  Greek  of  verse 
9  requires  the  rendering  "acceptable"  in- 
■^tead  of  "accepted". 


Knowing  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  there* 
fore  persuading  men,  2  Cor,  v.  10,  11. 

Love  constraining,  2  Cor.  v.  13-15. 

Reconciled,  therefore  reconciling,  2 
Cor.  V.  18-20, 

It  pleased  God  to  reveal  his  Son  in 
me,  that  I  might  preach  Him,  Gal.  i. 
15,  16, 

Faith  works  by  love,  Gal.  v.  6  ;  I 
Thess.  i.  3. 

A  dead  man's  works  are  dead,  Eph .  ii 
1-3  ;  Rom.  vii.  5  ;  viii.  5-8  ;  Heb,  vi.  I. 
Dead  works  need  to  be  repented  of,  an(f 
the  doer  of  them,  Heb.  ix.  14,  to  be  pur 
ged  by  the  blood  of  Christ. 

God's  work  in  Christ,  quickening,  sav 
ing,  raising,  seating  in  the  heavenlies  ;  o» 
grace  giving  salvation  apart  from  works, 
(Rom.  iv.  4-8,)  comes  first,  i  John  iv 
9,  10 ;  Eph.  ii.  4-9, 

The  good  works,  unto  which  the  be- 
liever is  created,  (2  Cor.  v.  17  ;  Gal.  vi. 
15,)  then  follow.  Rom.  vii.  6  ;  viii.  3,4;. 
I  Thess.  i.  19;  ii.  13;  Titus  ii.  11-14; 
iii,  8 ;  Heb.  x.  19,  25  ;  i  John  iv.  19,  20; 
V.  5.  What  God  requires  of  the  unbe- 
liever is,  to  believe.  John  vi.  28,  29;  i 
John  iii.  23  ;  Eph.  ii.  10. 

Sons  of  God  shine  as  lights,  holding 
forth  the  Word  of  Life,  i  Peter  ii.  9-12  ;. 
Phil.  ii.  15,  16, 

My  fellow  laborers,  whose  names 
are  in  the  Book  of  Life.      Phil.  iv.  3. 

Christ  in  the  believer,  as  the  hope  of 
glory,  is  a  power  for  service,  2  Thess.  i. 
II,  12  ;  Col,  i.  25-29. 

' '  Gospel  work, "  so  called,  which  does, 
not  flow  from  love,  out  of  a  cleansed 
heart,  a  good  conscience,  and  faith  un- 
feigned, becomes  vain  jangling,  and  a. 
teaching  of  the  law,  not  according  to  the 
glorious  gospel  of  the  blessed  God,  i  Tim. 
i.  5-1 1.  The  Greek  word  rendered 
"pure"  in  this  passage,  occurs  Matt.  v. 
8;  "clean,"  John  xiii.  10  ;  '  xv.  3; 
"purge,"  Heb.  i.  3  ;  ix,  14.;  "cleanseth,'" 
I  John  i.  7,  9,  and  elsewhere. 

We  labour  because  we  trust,  i  Tim.  iv- 

TO. 


■124- 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READIxNTGS. 


Unfeigned  faith  stirs  up  the  gift  of  God 

in  us,   unto  fearless   testimony,  2  Tim.  i. 
5-8. 

The  saved  man  is  the  called  man, 
ready  to  suffer  in  bearing  witness,  because 
Tie  knows,  2  Tim.  i.  9-12, 

The  testimony  is  committed  to  be- 
lievers.    2  Tim.  ii.  2. 

The  gospel  is  committed,  by  the  com- 
■mandment  of  our  Saviour,  to  one  who 
acknowledges  the  truth  of  God,  who 
cannot  lie.     Titus  i.  1-3. 

Examples  of  faith  working.     Heb.  xi. 

Jesus  the  perfect  example.  Heb.  xii.1-3. 

Works  spring  from  faith,  not  from 
profession.     James  ii.  14-26. 

Unto  the  wicked  God  saith,  What 
hast  thou  to  do,  to  declare  my  statutes, 
•or  that  thou  shouldest  take  my  covenant 
in  thy  mouth  ?  Psalm  1.  16,  17. 

Even  a  wolf  will  not  preach  except  in 
-sheep's  clothing.     Matt.  vii.  15. 

The  unbelieving  gospel  worker,  even 
if  good  should  result,  is  a  worker  of 
iniquity.     Matt.  vii.  21-23. 

Every  Believer. — In  all  these  pass- 
-ages.  believers,  without  distinction,  are 
workers ;  and  the  inspiration  of  the 
Avork  is  the  faith  that  is  common  to  all. 
Hence  every  believer  is  expected  to 
work.  For  further  evidence  and  illus- 
tration consult. 

To  every  man  talents  according  to 
his  several  ability,  but  every  man  to 
trade.     Matt.  xxv.  15. 

Each  servant  has  a  pound.  Every 
believer  has  the  gospel.  Luke  xix.  11-26. 

All  were  filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit, 
and  all  spake.     Acts  iv.  31 :  Acts  ii.  1-4. 

Sons  and  daughters,  young  men  and 
old  men,  servants  and  hand-maidens,  all 
are  lO  prophesy.     Acts  ii.  17,  18. 

The  church  was  scattered,  but  wher- 
ever there  was  a  believer,  there  was  a 
preacher  of  the  Word.  Acts  xi.  19-21  ; 
Acts  viii.  4. 

A  husband  and  wife  expound  to  a 
preacher,  eloquent  and  mighty  in  the 
Scriptures,  (of  the  law,)  the  way  of  God 
more  perfectly.     Acts  xviii.  26. 


j  A  pastor's  helpers  in  Christ  have  theif 
names  recorded  by  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Rom.  xvi.  1-15. 

Silencing  a  gospel  preacher  makes 
many  brethren  preachers.  Phil.  i.  12-14. 

Women  are  not  excepted  from  evan- 
gelistic work.  Phil.  iv.  3;  Rom.  xvi.  i, 
2,  3,  12. 

An  ignorant  and  unlearned  man  may 

speak  what  he  has  seen  and  heard  with 

Jesus.     Acts  iv,  13,  20;  Luke  ix.  12-17;- 
Acts  iii.  6. 

One  less  than  the  least  of  all  saints 
may  preach  the  unsearchable  riches  of 
Christ.     Eph.  iii.  8. 

The  chief  of  sinners  may  tell  that 
faithful  saying,  which  is  worthy  of  all 
acceptation,     i  Tim.  i.  15. 

When  the  believer  will  not  be  expected 
to  do  gospel  work.     Heb.  viii.  11. 

The  Commission. — That  God  has 
commissioned  every  believer  to  gospel 
work,  is  evident  from  the  Scripture 
already  adduced.  For  further  teaching, 
examine  the  following  references,  and 
may  the  Holy  Spirit  use  them  to  impress 
upon  every  Christicm  that  he  is  personally 
called  qf  God  to  the  work. 

Whosoever  follows  Jesus  must  become 
a  fisher  of  men.     Matt.  iv.  18-22. 
,  What  is  light  for  unless  to  shine  ?  Cf. 
'  Luke  viii.  16.     Matt.  v.  14-16. 

Seeing  the  ,  need  and  praying  for 
workers,  prepares  one  to  answer.  Lord, 
send  me.  Matt.  ix.  37,  38  (connected 
with  ch.  10). 

As  ye  have  received  Chrfst  Jesus, 
preach  Him.  Matt.  x.  5-8;  i  Peter  iv, 
10,  II. 

What  we  have  heard  in  our  hearts  we 
must  tell  publicly.     Matt,  x.  27. 

Does  the  man  possess  Christ  who 
never  speaks  of  Him  ?  Matt.  x.  32,  33  ■ 
Cf.  Mark  viii.  38. 

The  calling  of  the  church  in  the 
world,  like  that  of  her  Lord,  is  not  to 
be  ministered  unto,  but  to  minister. 
Matt.  XX,  25-28. 

Son,  go  work  to-day  in  my  vineyard. 
Matt.  xxi.  28. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


125 


Go  ye  into  the  highways,  and  as  many 
as  ye  shall  find,  bid  to  the  marriage. 
Matt.  xxii.  i-io. 

Servants  are  reckoned  with  according 
to  faithfulness  in  the  gospel  committed 
to  their  trust.     Matt.  xxv.  19, 

A  saved  man  is  not  taken  to  be  with 
Jesus,  but  is  sent  into  the  world  with  a 
message.    Luke  viii.  38,  39;  Psa.  Ixvi.  16. 

The  most  sacred  duties  of  affection 
are  no  excuse  from  gospel  work.  Luke 
ix,  59,  60. 

The  departing  Lord  says  to  every 
servant,  "  Occupy  till  1  come."  Luke 
xix,  13. 

On  his  return,  he  will  ask  how  much 
every  man  has  gained  by  trading. 
Luke  xix.  15. 

What  would  Jesus  say  to  disciples 
who  wantisd  to  hold  their  peace  ?  Luke 
xix.  37-40. 

May  the  Lord  now  look  (61)  upon 
any  Christian  who,  getting  separated 
from  Christ,  (54)  and  failing  to  stand 
up  for  him,  (55)  comes  at  length  to  deny 
him.     (57-60.)     Luke  xxii.  54-62. 

The  believer  is  a  debtor  to  the  un- 
believer. He  owes  him  the  gospel. 
Rom.  i.  13-15. 

Believer,  a  necessity  is  laid  upon  thee ; 
a  dispensation  is  committed  to  thee ;  to 
fail  is  to  bring  loss  upon  thyself,  i  Cor. 
ix.  16,  17. 

The  church,  whose  home  is  with  her 
Lord,  is  left  on  earth  to  testify  to  all 
men,  everywhere,  the  gospel  of  his  grace. 
This  is  our  one  work  on  earth.  How 
sacred  and  imperative  to  every  Christian 
these  last  words  of  our  departing  Lord. 
Matt,  xxviii,  18-20;  Mark  xvi.  15;  Luke 
xxiv.  46-51  ;  John  xv.  13-16,  26,  27 ; 
John  xvii.  18  ;  Acts  i.  7-1 1. 

III.— THE  PREPARATION. 

General  Qualifications.  —  The 
spiritual  preparation  required  for  gospel 
v/ork,  whether  by  apostles,  evangelists, 
pastors,  and-other  church  officers,  or  by 
the  individual  Christian,  (2  Cor.  vi.  1-13,) 
does   not    differ  in    character,    only  in 


I  degree.  Therefore  study  minutely.  Matt. 
]  X ,  I  Timothy ;  Titus  ;  Luke  x ;  z 
i  Timothy  ;  i  Peter  v.  i-ii. 

But  above  all,  let  each  one  continually  " 
study  the  gospel  work  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
our  great  example.     To  learn  of  Him  is- 
to  be  wise  in  winning  souls. 

Special  Qualifications. — All  that 
goes  to  make  up  a  fully  developed  Chris- 
tian character,  whether  in  knowledge, 
experience,  or  communion,  will  unques- 
tionably add  power  to  the  gospel  worker. 
The  following  particulars  of  inner  equip- 
ment are  therefore  noted,  not  as  being 
complete,  but  as  being  important,  both 
to  give  direction  to  our  prayers,  and  to 
open  our  hearts  to  the  Spirit  of  God, 
by  whom  they  are  wrought. 

Assurance. — It  must  be  remembered 
in  this,  and  in  all  these  special  qualifica- 
tions, that  only  those  references  will  in 
general  be    given,    which,    directly    or 
indirectly,    show    the    relation    of    the 
qualification    to    success    in    Christian; 
work.       For  example,   to  get  the  full 
teaching  on  assurance,  one  must  search 
the  New  Testament  with  a  Concordance; 
under  the  words  assurance,  sure,  hath, 
now,  know,  etc. ,  and  study  such  chapters- 
as  Eph.  i ;  Col,  i ;  Heb.  x ;  i  John  v.  9- 
13.     But  in  connection  with  our  present 
study  upon   Gospel  Work,  it  is  enough 
to  notice  that,  in  all  the  passages  referred 
to  under  the  headings,  the  believer  is  the 
worker,  and  every   believer  is  expected 
to  work,  the  faith  spoken  of  is  evidently 
an  assured  faith,  and   to  give  here  only 
such  references  as  will  show  assurance  • 
to  be  important  to  the  worker's  highest 
success. 

Luke  X.  20;  John  iii.  11;  see  also  iv. 
42;  Acts  xxii.  14,  15;  I  Cor.  i.  3-7;  i 
Cor.  ii.  12,  13;  2  Cor.  iv.  13,  14;  2  Cor. 
V.  I,  with  9,  10,  II ;  2  Tim.  i.  11,  12 ;  i 
John  iv.  13,  14. 

Love. — i  Cor.  xiii. ;  i  Cor.  xiv.  i ;  1 
Thess.  iii.  12  ;   i  John  iv.  7-16. 

Hunger  for  the  Salvation  op 
Souls. — ^John   iii.  16;    Matt,   xxiii.   37; 


£26 


NOTES    f'OR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


Luke  xix.  41,  42;  Acts  xx.  18-21,  26,  27  ; 
Rom.  i.  11-15;  Rom.  ix.  1-3;  Rom.  x.  i; 
Z  Cor,  xii.  14,  15,  see  marginal  reading; 
Phil.  i.  8 ;  I  Thess.  ii.  7,  8. 

A  Longing  to  reach  the  Neg- 
lected.— Mark  vi.  34;  Luke  v.  31,  32; 
Luke  XV.  7;  Luke  xix.  10;  Rom.  xv.  20, 
21;  James  ii.  1-9, 

Prayerfulness. — Mark  ix.  29;  Luke 
V.  15-17;  Luke  xi.  5-13;  John  xii.  21,22; 
Acts  i.  4,  14  ;  Acts  iv.  24-31 ;  Acts  vi.  4  ; 

1  Thess.  V.  17;   Rom.  xv.  30;  Col.  iv. 
12,  13  ;  Eph.  vi,  18-20. 

Fulness  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.— Luke  v.  18-20  ;  Acts  xiii,  9, 
Acts  i,  4,  5,  8  ;  Rom.  xv,  29  ;  Acts  ii,  4  J 
Eph.  V,  18  ;  Acts  iv,  8,  31  ;  i  Thess.  i, 
5  ;  Acts  vi,  5,  8,  10 ;  2  Thess  i,  11,  12  ; 
Acts  vii,  55  ;  i  John  ii,  20,  27,  28  ;  Acts 
ix,  17. 

Obedience  to  the  Spirit, — Luke  v, 
5-7  ;  2  Cor.  iv,  2  ;  John  xxi,  3t6  ;  i  Thess. 
ii,  3-6;  Acts  iv,  18-20;  I  Thess.  v,  19; 
Acts  V,  28-29  ;  John  ii,  5  ;  Acts  viii,  29, 
30  ;  John  vii,  3-10,  17,  18  ;  Acts  xiii,  2-4  ; 
Exod.  xiii,  21,  22;  Acts  xvl^  6-io ; 
Num.  ix,  15-23  ;  Rom.  viii,  14. 

Confidence  in  the  message. — Rom. 
a,  16,  17  ;  2  Cor.  i,  18-22  ;  i  Cor.  i,  17- 
28  ;  I  Pet.  iv,  II  ;  I  Cor  ii,  1-5. 

Boldness. — Acts  iv,  13,  29,  31  ;  Eph. 
vi.  10-20  ;  Acts  vii.  51-60  ;  i  Thess.  ii.  2  ; 
i  Cor.  xvi,  9-14. 

Readiness  to  suffer  and  to 
WAIT.— Matt.  V,  II,  12  ;  Acts  v,  41  ;  2 
Cor.  iv,  I  ;  Phil.  1,  29  ;  Phil,  ii,  17  ;  Phil. 
iv,  11-13;  Col.  i,  24;  2  Thess.  iii,  13; 
James  v.  7,  8,  10  ,  i  Pet.  ii.  19-25  ;  i 
Pet.  iv.  12-19. 

Joy   in  the   Lord, — Neh.    viii.    10; 

2  Cor.  vii.  4  ;  Phil.  iii.  3  ;  Phil.  iv.  4- 
7  ;  I  Thess.  V.  16  ;  Psa.  Ii.  12,  13. 

Humility. — Matt.  xx.  25-28  ;  Matt, 
xxiii.  5-12  ;  Acts  xx.  19  ;  Rom.  xii.  3-10  ; 
Phil.  i.  15-18  ;    Phil.  ii.  5-8  ;   Jude  ix. 

Oneness  of  Heart  and  Soul  with 
the  Children  of  God. — Acts  iv.  32, 
33  ;    Rom.  xvi.  17,  18  ;  Phil.  ii.    1-4. 

Discrimination. — Matt.  vii.  6;  Matt. 
xii.  20  ;    I  Cor.  ix.  19-22  ;  I  Cor.  x.  23, 


32,  33  ;  I  Cor.  xiv,6-ii  ;  23-25  ;  Phil.  i. 
10,  marg.  ;  2  Tim.  ii.  15  ;  Jude  20-23  ; 
Matt.  V.  43-47. 

Tenderness. — Ps.  cxxvi,  5,  6  ;  2  Cor. 
ii.  4 ;  Phil.  iii.  18  ;  Luke  xiii.  34,  35  ; 
Luke  xix,  41,  42  ;  Acts  xx.  19,  31 ;  Matt, 
xii.  20. 

Blamelessness. — Matt.  vii.  3-5  ;  Rom. 
ii.  17-24;  Rom.  XV,  14;  Rom.  xvi.  19; 
Eph.  V.  11-18;  Phil,  ii.  15;  Phil.  iii.  17; 
Col.  i.  9-1 1  ;  I.  Thess.  ii.  10 ;  James  iii. 
10-13  ;  I  Pet.  ii.  II,  12,  15. 

Consecration  and  devotedness. — 
Luke  V.  10,  11;  John  xxi.  18-22;  Acts 
XX.  18-27;  Rom.  xii.  i,  2  ;  i  Cor.  ii.  2; 
I  Cor.  ix.  23-27  ;  2  Cor.  v.  13-15  ;  Phil, 
i.  19-21 ;  Phil.  ii.  20,  21,  (with  Matt.  vi. 
24,);  Col  i.  28,  29;  Heb.  xi.  24-27; 
Heb.  xiii.  12-15  \  Exod.  xxix.  i,  4-9,  19- 
22,  35  ;  Lev.  xiv.  1-20;  Isa.  Iii.  11  ;  2 
Tim.  ii.  1-5,  19-22. 

The  woirker  cannot  have  power  except 
as  he  is  spiritually  a  Nazarite.  2  Cor. 
vi.  14;  vii.  I ;  Acts  xx.  18-24  ;  Num.  vi.  i- 
27  ;  Judges  xiii.  4,  5  ;  Judges  xvi.  17,  21. 

God's  sufficiency. — The  call  of  God 
to  work,  and  the  qualifications  to  which 
he  calls  his  workers,  makes  one  conscious 
of  unfitness.  But  this  God  meets  by  the 
pledge  of  his  sufficiency,  which  inspires 
and  girds  to  service. 

Moses,  Exodus  iii,  iv.  Gideon,  Judges 
vi.  15,  16.  Isaiah  vi.  5,  8.  Jeremiah 
i,  6-9.  Paul,  I  Cor.  xv.  9,  10 ;  2  Cor. 
ii.  14-17  ;  2  Cor.  iii.  5,  6 ;  2  Cor.  iv,  7  ;  2 
Cor.  xii.  9,  10.  Every  Christian,  Phil, 
iv.  13,  19  ;  2  Cor.  ix.  8. 

IV.— THE  POWER. 

The  worker  can  do  nothing  of  himself. 
His  power  is  entirely  from  the  Spirit  of 
God,  given  in  answer  to  prayer,  and  in 
the  use  of  God's  Word. 

(i.)  Power  by  the  Spirit. — The 
general  principle  is  stated  Zech.  iv.  6, 
"  Not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by 
my  Spirit,  saith  the  Lord."  Compare  for 
illustration  the  vision  in  Ezek.  xxxviL 
See  also  John  i.  12,  13. 

The  service  of  saints  in  past  dispensa* 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


127 


tions  was,  therefore,  only  by  the  power 
of  the  Spirit  upon  them.  Yet  the  in- 
dwelling fulness  of  His  power  is  mani- 
fested in  this,  the  dispensation  of  the 
Spirit, '(John  vii.  37,  38,  and  xiv.  16,  23,) 
and  the  service  is  that  not  of  servants 
but  of  full-grown  sons.     Gal.  iv.  1-7. 

EXAMPLES  FROM  THE  OLD  TESTAMENT. 

Bezaleel.     Exodus  xxxi.  3. 

Moses  and  the  seventy  elders.  Num. 
xi.  24—30. 

Joshua.     Deut.  xxxiv.  9. 

Othniel.     Judges  iii.  9,  10. 

Gideon.     Judges  vi.  34. 

Jephthah.    Judges  xi.  29. 

Samson.  Judges  xiv.  6,  19 ;  Judges 
XV.  14  ;  Judges  xvi.  28. 

David.     I  Sam.  xvi.  13  ;  Psa.  li.  12,  13. 

Ehjah  and  Elisha.     2  Kings  ii.  q,  15. 

Amasai.     i  Chron.  xii.  18. 

Azariah.     2  Chron.  xv.  i. 

Prophecies  of  Christ.  Isa.  xi.  2,  3 ; 
Isa.  xlii.  I  ;  Isa.  Ixi.  1-3. 

Ezekiel.     Ezek.  ii.  2  ;  Ezek.  iii.  12-14. 

Micah.     Micah  iii.  8. 

TEACHING  IN  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT. 

The  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Matt, 
iii.  II,  cf.  16. 

The  Spirit  of  your  Father.  Matt.  x.  20. 

Endued  with  power.     Luke  xxiv.  49. 

The  Spirit  gives  new  birth.  John  iii.  5. 

The  Spirit  quickeneth.     John  vi.  63. 

Rivers  of  living  water  flow  from  the 
indwelling  Spirit.     John  vii.  38,  39. 

The  Spirit,  in  the  believer,  is  his 
teacher  and  reminder.     John  xiv.  17,26. 

The  Spirit  bears  witness.  John  xv. 
26;  I  John  V.  6. 

The  Spirit  convinces  the  world.  John 
xvi.  7-1 1. 

The  Spirit  is  to  the  believer  a  guide 
into  all  truth.     John  xvi.  13. 

The  work  was  not  of  man.    Acts  iii.  1 2. 
The   Spirit  gave  great  power.     Acts 
iv.  31,  33- 

The  Spirit  is  resisted  and  despised, 

^Heb.  X.  29,)  when  the  gospel  is  rejected. 
Acts  vii.  51. 

The  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  ^  Rom. 
Yv.  13,  14. 

Faith  stands  in  the  power  of  God,  the 
dem onstration  of  the  Spirit .    i  Cor.  ii .  20. 

The  kingdom  of  God  is  not  in  word, 
but  in  power,     i  Cor.  iv.  20. 


Faith  in  Jesus  as  Lord  is  by  the 
Spirit.     I  Cor.  xii.  3. 

All  gifts  are  worked  by  the  Spirit, 
who  distributes  them,     i  Cor.  xii.  4-1 1. 

To  be  strengthened  with  might,  is  by 
the  Spirit.     Eph.  iii.  16, 

The  Spirit  uses  the  sword.    Eph.  vi.  1 7. 

The  Spirit  of  power.     2  Tim.  i.  7. 

We  are  to  keep  our  gifts  for  service, 
by  the  Spirit.     2  Tim.  i.  6,  14. 

EXAMPLES  FROM  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT. 

Jesus.  Matt.  iii.  16  ;  Matt.  xii.  28  ; 
Luke  ii.  25;  Luke  iv.  14,  18;  Acts  i.  2; 
Acts  X.  38, 

John  the  Baptist.     Luke  i.  1$. 

Mary.     Luke  i.  35. 

Elizabeth.     Luke  i.  41. 

Zacharias.     Luke  i.  67. 

Paul.     Rom.  xv.  19 ;  i  Cor.  ii.  4, 12, 13. 

Paul  and  ApoUos.     i  Cor.  iii.  5,  6, 

Paul.     2  Cor.  iii.  3-6. 

Paul  and  Timothy.     2  Cor.  vi.  6.  7. 

Paul.     Col.  i.  29. 

Among  theThessalonians.  i  Thess.i.5. 

For  passages  omitted  above  see  Ful- 
ness of  Faith   and  of  the   Holy  Spirit. 

(2.)  Power  by  the  Word. — The  word 
1  of  God  is  the  instrument,  as  the  Spirit 
of  God  is  the  agent,  in  saving  souls- 
The  worker,  therefore,  needs  to  know 
God's  description  of  His  Word,  and  to 
realize  that  it  is  His  instrument  in  all 
teaching,  and  that  God  will  accordingly 
use  the  worker  and  clothe  him  with 
power  in  proportion  as  he  brings  His 
Word  to  bear  directly  on  men's  souls. 

GOD'S  DESCRIPTION  OF  HIS 
WORD. 

Given  by  Inspiration. — 2  Tim.  iii. 
16 ;  Acts  i.  16 ;  Acts  iv.  24,  25 ;  Acts  xxviii. 
25;  I  Cor.  ii.  4,  5,  9-13;  Heb.  i.  2;  cf. 
xii.  25;  Heb.  ii.  1-4;  Heb.  iii.  7;  Heb. 
ix.  7,  8;  Heb.  x.  15;  2  Peter  i.  21. 

The  Oracles  of  God. — Acts  vii.  38. 
Rom.  iii.  2;  Heb.  v.  12;  i  Peter  iv.  11. 

The  Word  of  God. — Prov.  xxx.  5, 
6;  Isaiah  xl.  8;  Mark  vii.  13;  Luke  iv. 
4;  Luke  xi.  28;  Acts  iv.  31;  Acts  vi.  7; 
Acts  xi.  I ;  Acts  xii.  24 ;  cf.  xix.  20 ;  Acts 
xiii.  44;  2  Peter  iii.  2-10. 


128 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


The  Word  of  the  Lord.— Jer.  vli:. 
9;  Acts  viii.  25;  Acts  xiii.  46-49;  Acts 
svi.  32;  I  Thess.  i.  8  ;  aThess.  iii.  i. 

The  Word  of  Truth.— 2  Cor.  vi.  7  ; 
Eph.  i.  13 ;  Col.  i.  5 ;  2  Tim.  ii.  15 ;  James 
i.  18. 

The  Words  of  Life.— John  vi.  63, 
68  ;  Acts  V.  20 ;  Phil.  2.  16. 

The  Word  of  His  Grace.    Acts  xx.32. 

The  Word  of  Faith.  Rom.  x.  8. 

The  Word  of  Reconciliation.  2  Cor. 
V.  19. 

The  Word  of  Christ.     Col.  iii.  16. 

Settled  in  Heaven.     Psalms  cxix.  89. 

Not  yea  and  nay.     2  Cor.  i.  19,  20.       j 

A  rock  foundation.     Matt.  vii.  24. 

Very  pure.     Psalm  cxix.  140. 

The  seed  sown.     Luke  vifi..  11. 

The  incorruptible  seed,    i  Peter  i.  23. 

It  testifies  of  Christ.  Luke  ;_xxiv.  27, 
44 ;  John  V.  39  ;  Acts  x.  43. 

It  must  be  met  in  the  Day  of  Judg- 
ment.   John  xii.  48  ;  Rom.  ii.  16. 

It  liveth  and  abideth  for  ever.  "  And 
this  is  the  Word  which  by  the  gospel  is 
preached."     i  Peter  i.  23,  25, 

Knowledge  of  the  Word. — To  be 
.  in    heart  thoroughly    acquainted    with 
God's  Word,  is  to  be  thoroughly  furnish- 
ed unto  Gospel  Work.     2  Tim.  iii.  17. 

God's  Word  needs  no  supplement. 
Deut.  iv.  2  ;  Deut.  xii.  32;  Prov.  xxx,  5,  6. 

Understanding  God's  precepts  pre- 
pares one  to  speak.    Psalm  cxix.  27. 

God's  testimonies  give  more  under- 
standing than  any  human  teaching.  Psa. 
cxix.  97-100. 

The  Christian  needs  his  lamp  in  gos- 
pel work.     Psalm  cxix,  105. 

One  full  of  God's  word  is  not  afraid, 
anywhere,  to  speak  His  testimonies.  Psa. 
cxix.  46  ;  Psa.  cxix.  171,  172, 

Out  of  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  cometh 

wisdom  and  knowledge.     Prov.  ii.  1-6. 

God's  Word  in  the  heart  is  a  burning 
fire.     Jer.  xx.  9, 

The    difference    God    puts  between 

those  who  speak  out  of  their  own*hearts, 

and  thos(3  who  speak  out  of  his  Word. 

Jer.  xxiii.  16--4G, 


To  teach  "views"  of  truth,  instead  o£ 
Gods  words,  is  irreverent  to  Christ. 
Mark  vii.  9-13. 

God's  Word  is  written  "  that  thou 
mightest  know  the  certainty  of  those 
things  wherein  thou  hast  been  instruct- 
ed."    Luke  i.  3,  4. 

Knowledge  oi  the  truth,  which  is 
essential  to  gospel  work,  is  dependent 
on  continuance  in  the  Word.  Cf.  Exod. 
xvi.  i2~2i,  and  Deut.  viii.  3  ;  John  viii. 
31-32. 

God's  witnesses  can  speak  only  what 
they  hear  from  Him,  John  xv.  4-8  ;  John 
viii.  26,  28  ;  John  xii.  50  ;  John  xiv.  10, 
24  ;  John  xvi.   13, 14. 

To  be  a  good  servant  of  Jesus  Christy 
one  must  be  nourished  in  the  words  of 
faith  and  good  doctrine,  i  Tim.  iv.  6. 

He  who  would  be  wise  to  win  souls 
(Prov.  xi.  30)  must  attend  to  reading,  to 
exhortation,  to  doctrine,  and  meditate 
upon  these  things,  i  Tim.  iv.  i2-i6- 

Those  who  teach  anything  else  than 
the  health-giving  words  of  our  Lord  J  csus 
Christ,  are  utterly  condemned,  i  Tim.  vi, 

3-5- 

"  Hold  fast  the  form  of  sound  words,** 

Cf.  2  Thess.  ii.  15  ;  2  Tim.  i.  13. 

By  disuse  of  the  Word,  one  becomes 
unskilful  in  it,  remains  a  babe,  and  is  un- 
fit to  teach  others,  Heb.  v.  11-14, 

From  the  Word,  the  worker  can  give  a 
reason  for  the  hope  that  is  in  him,  i  Pet 

iii.  15- 

He  is  strong,  in  whom  the  Word  of 
God  abideth,  John  xv.  7  ;  i  John  ii.  14. 

How  to  use  the  Word. — Read  it 
distinctly,  and  give  the  sense,  that  all 
may  understand,  Neh.  viii.  8. 

Appeal  to  it,  as  the  test  of  all  teaching, 
Isa.  viii.  20. 

Lead  the  inquirer  to  search  out  the 
passages  and  read  them,  that  he  may 
know  the  truth  for  himself.  Isa.  xxxiv. 
16;  John  V.  ^_:  Acts  xvii.  11.  "He 
that  halh  my  word,  let  him  speak  my 
word  faithfully,"  Jer,  xxiii,  28. 

Press   God's   words  as  aulhoratative. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


129 


Matt.  vii.  29  ;   I  Thess.  ii.  13 ;   Rom.  iii. 

Teach  the  way  of  God  in  truth,  not  re- 
garding the  person  of  men,  Mark  xii.  14. 

With  boldness.  Acts  iv.  29. 

With  simplicity,  as  the  testimony  of 
God,  not  with  enticing  words  of  man's 
wisdom,  I  Cor.  i.  17  ;  i  Cor.  ii.  i,  4. 

In  godly  sincerity  and  positiveness,  2 
Cor.  i.  12,  18-20. 

As  of  God,  in  the  sight  of  God,  2  Cor. 
n.  l^, 

Using  great  plainness  of  speech,  2  Cor. 
iii.  12. 

Not  handling  the  Word  of  God  by  "ac- 
commodation," but  manifesting  tiic  truth. 
2  Cor.  iv.  2. 

To  give  Christ  himself,  not  human  phil- 
osophy or  tradition  about  him.  Col.  ii, 
3,  4,  8.  Cf.  Titus  i.  14. 

Not  striving  about  words  to  no  profit. 
2  Tim.  ii.  14,  23,  2^,   Cf.  Titus  iii,  9. 

Rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth.  2 
Tim.  ii.  15.   Luke  xii.  42,  43. 

In  meekness,  that  God  may  give  re- 
pentance, to  the  acknowledging  of  the 
truth.     2  Tim.  ii.  25. 

With  all  long-suffering.     2  Tim.  iv.  2. 

Our  Saviour's  use  of  the  word  in 
His  ministry. — It  was  his  strength  when 
tempted  to  swerve  from  his  appointed 
path  of  service.  Matt.  iv.  4,  7,  10.  Psa. 
xvii.  4. 

He  referred  to  it,  as  showing  that  the 
gospel  was  for  sinners.     Matt.  ix.  13. 

He  appealed  to  it  against  tradition. 
Matt.  xii. 3,  5,  7.  Cf.  Matt,  xv,  3-9.  John 
vii.  19-24. 

By  it  he  rebuked  an  itching  for  signs 
and  a  carelessness  of  truth.  Matt.  xii.  39- 
42. 

By  it  he  interpreted  human  nature. 
Matt.  xiii.  14,  15. 

From  it  he  answered  a  question  about 
divorce.     Matt.  xix.  4.6. 

He  used  it  as  a  looking-glass,  to  show 
a  man  his  own  heart.     Matt.  xix.  17-22. 

It  was  His  authority  when  he  rebuked 

bargaining  in  the  house  of  God.     Matt, 
xxi.  13. 

He  quoted  it  in  defence  of  children  who 
confessed  him.     Matt.  xxi.  16. 

9 


From  it  he  showed  the  judgment  which 
would  follow  the  rejection  of  his  testi- 
mony.    Matt,  xxi,  42. 

From  the  use  of  a  tense  in  the  Old  Tes- 
tament, he  taught  the  resurrection.  Matt, 
xxii.  29-32. 

He  used  its  types,  as  well  as  its  state- 
ments of  truth.  Matt.  xxiv.  37-39.  Luke 
xvii.  29,  30  ;  John  iii.  14  ;  John  vi.  32,  51. 

He  used  it,  to  show  men  their  ignorance 
of  the  Old  Testament,  when  they  did 
not  see  Him  in  it,  Mark  xii.  35-37; 
Luke  xxiv.  25-27;  Luke  xxiv.  44-46; 
John  V.  39,  46. 

He  rightly  divided.  Luke  iv.  17-20; 
Isaiah  Ixi.  2. 

He  noted  the  fulfilment  of  Scripture. 
John  XV.  25;  John  xvii.  12. 

So  also  did  Matthew  and  John.  Matt, 
i.  22;  Matt.  ii.  15,  17,  23;  Matt.  viii.  17; 
John  xii.  38 ;  John  xix.  24,  36,  37. 

So  also  did  Peter.     Acts  ii.   16,   25. 

Stephen.     Acts  vii. 
Philip.     Acts  viii.  35. 
Paul.     Acts  xiii.  16-47. 
James.     Acts  xv.  13-18. 
Apollos.     Acts  xviii.  28. 

The  Epistles  and  the  Revelation  are 
full  of  the  Old  Testament ;  Hebrews  is 
little  more  than  an  exposition  of  Leviticus; 
and  the  passages  of  the  Old  Testament 
quoted  or  alluded  to  in  the  New, 
number  825. 

The  Direct  Testimony  to  the 
Power  of  the  Word. — It  converts  the 
soul.     Psaim  xix,  7-1 1;  Jer.  xxiii.  22. 

It  makes  clean.  Psalm  cxix.  9;  Joha 
xiii.  8-10;  John  xv.  3;  Eph.  v.  26. 

It  quickens.     Psalm  cxix.  50,  93. 

It  enlightens  and  convinces  of  sin. 
Psalm  cxix.  130;  Prov,  vi.  20-23 ;  Hosea 
vi.  4-6;  John  iii.  19-21;  Eph.  v.  11-14. 

It  gives  life.  Isaiah  Iv.  2,  3  ;  Matt.iv.4; 

John  V.  24;  John  vi.  63,  68;  John  xx,  31. 
It  accomplishes  God's  purpose.    Isaiah 

Iv.    II. 

It  is  like  a  fire  and  a  hammer,  jer. 
xxiii.  29, 

It  is  stronger  than  if  one  rose  from 
the  dead.     Luke  xvi.  29-31. 

It  saves. the  soul.     Acts  xi.  14;  Acts 


130 


NOTES  FOR  BIBLE  READINGS. 


xiii.  26;  Rom.  i.  16;  I  Tim.  iv.  16;  2 
Tim.  iii.  15;  James  i.  21. 

It  is  able  to  build  up.  Acts  xx.  32; 
Rom.  XV.  4;  I  Cor.  x.  11 ;   i  Peter  ii.  2. 

It  produces  conviction  of  sm.  Rom. 
iii.  20;  Rom.  vii.  9- 13;  James  ii.  9. 

It  produces  faith.     Rom.  x.  17. 

Itproducesjoy  and  peace.  Rom.  xv.  13. 

It  is  the  power  of  God.   i  Cor.  i.  17-25; 

1  Cor.  ii.  4,  5. 

It  is  a  savor  of  death  unto  death,  or  of 
life  unto  life.     2  Cor.  ii.  16,  17. 

It  appeals  to  every  man's  conscience. 

2  Cor.  iv.  2. 

It  pulls  down  strongholds.  2  Cor.  x. 
4,  5- 

Is  a  schoolmaster  unto  Christ.  Gal. 
iii.  19-24. 

It  is  the  sword  of  the  Spirit.  Eph.  vi. 
17;  Heb.  iv.  12. 

Stops  the  mouths  of  gainsayers.  Titus 
i.,  9-11. 

It  gives  the  new  birth.  James  i.  18; 
I  Peter  i.  23.  ' 

It  gives  knowledge  of  the  possession  of 
eternal  life,     i  John  v.  9-13. 

v.— THE  INCENTIVES. 

The  great  incentives  to  Gospel  Work 
are  the  facts  that  man  is  lost  and  that 
in  Christ  only  is  salvation.  (See  Text- 
Book  of  Gospel  Truth.)  These  two 
underlie  and  enter  into  all  other 
incentives. 

The  Salvation  of  men. — God  would 
not  have  them  perish.  John  iii.  16; 
Ezek.  xviii.  32;  Ezek.  xxxiii.  11. 

How  shall  they  hear  vwthout  a 
preacher?     Rom.  x.  12-17. 

Paul  could  not  rest  while  men  were 
perishing,     i  Cor.  ix.  19-22. 

God  would  have  all  men  saved,  i 
Tim.  ii.  4  ;  2  Peter  iii.  9. 

Christ's  Constraining  Love.  2  Cor. 

v.  14,  15. — Abiding  in  Christ's  love,  and 

obeying  his  commands,  are  inseparable. 

John  XV.  9- 14. 

As  we  have  received  mercy,  we  faint 
not.     2  Cor.  iv.  i. 

Christ's  love  lives  in  our  love  for  the 
lost.     Gal.  ii.  20. 


We  give  ourselves  as  he  halh  given 
himself.     Eph.  v.  2;   i  John  iii.  16. 

We  love,  because  he  first  loved  us.  i 
John  iv.  7-16,  19. 

the  requirement  to  be  faithful.  — 
He  who  is  unfaithful  is  guilty  of  the  blood 
of  souls.     Acts  XX.  26,  27. 

Faithfulness  is  required  in  stewards,  i 
Cor.  iv.  I -5. 

The  ministry  is  to  be  fulfilled.     Col.  iv. 

17- 

Every  man  is  to  minister  as  he  has  re- 
ceived the  gift.     I  Pet.  iv.  lo. 

Pleasing  the  Lord.  —  Making  the 
Father  glad.     Luke  xv.  7,  10,  22-24. 

Being  wrought  for  resurrection,  we  la- 
bour to  be  acceptable.     2  Cor.  v.  5-9. 

Christ's  servant  seeks  to  please  him, 
not  men.  Rom.  xv.  1-3;  i  Cor.  x.  33; 
Gal.  i.  10;  I  Thess.  ii.  4. 

We  are,  to  walk  worthy  of  the  Lord  unto 
all  pleasing.     Col.  i.  10. 

A  soldier  must  please  him  who  hath 

chosen  him.     2  Tim.  ii.  4.  ^ 

A  workman  must  be  approved.  2  Tim. 
ii.  15. 

The  honour  of  being  associated 
with  Christ.  —  Christ  and  his  messen- 
gers are  one.    John  xiii.  20. 

As  friends,  they  know  his  plans.  John 
XV.  15. 

They  are  treated  as  he  was.  Matt.  x. 
25;  John  XV.  20. 

They  are  sent  as  he  was.  John  xvii.  18, 
21. 

He  and  the  Spirit  work  in  them.  Rom. 
XV.  17-19;  I  Cor.  ii.  4-13. 

They  are  ambassadors  for  him.  2  Cor. 
V.  20. 

They  are  encouraged  by  the  joy  set  be- 
fore them,  even  as  he  was.   Heb.  xii.  2-4. 

The   pressing    work   and    little 

TIME. — The  harvest  is  plenteous,   and  the 

labourers  are  few.     Matt.  ix.  37. 

All  nations  are  to  be  taught.  Matt, 
xxviii.  19, 

The  gospel  is  to  be  preached  to  every 
creature.     Mark  xvi,  15. 

The  fields  are  white  to  harvest.  John 
iv.  35-38. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


131 


The  night  ccmeth,  when  no  man  Can 
work,  John  :x.  4  ;  John  xi.  g,  10, 

It  is  high  time  t6  awake  out  of  sleep, 
Rom.  xiii.  11-14  ;   i  Peter  iv.  7. 

The  time  is  short,  i  Cor,  vii.  29-31. 

The  Success  Promised. — Nothing  is 
impossible,  even  to  little  faith.  Matt. 
xvii.  20,  21  ;  Matt.  xxi.  21,  22. 

From  henceforth  thou  shalt  catch 
men.  Luke  v.  6-10  ;  John  xxi.  3-1 1. 

Christ  in  the  believer's  work  is  greater 
than  in  his  own,  John  xiv.  12.,  13. 

The  weakness  of  God  is  stronger  than 
men,  i  Cor.  i.  17-28. 

Libor  is  not  m  vain  in  the  Lord,  i 
Cor.  i.  15-58. 

We  shall  reap  if  we  faint  not.  Gal. 
vi.  9. 

Even    adversities    shall    further    the 

gospel,  Phil.  i.  12. 

We  may  save  those  that  hear  us.  i 
Tim.  iv.  16. 

He  shall  doubtless  come  again  with 
rejoicing,  bringing  his  sheaves  with  him. 
Fsalm  cxxvi.  6. 

The  Certain  and  Proportionate 
Reward. — The 'least  service  shall  in  no 
wise  lose  its  reward.  Matt.  x.  40-42; 
Matt.  xvi.  27. 

It  shall  be  to  every  man,  according  as 
his  work  shall  be.  i  Cor.  iii.  8-14;  Rev. 
xxii.  12. 

Every  one  serving  shall  have  praise  of 
God.     I  Cor.  iv.  5. 

Star  dififers  from  star  in  glory,  i  Cor. 
XV.  41. 

Our  works  follow  us.     Rev.  xiv.  13. 

Various  Warnings. — A  servant  who 
does  not  serve  is  classed  with  hypocrites. 
Matt.  xxiv.  48-51;  Matt.  xxv.  24-30. 

And  with  unbelievers.     Luke  xii.  46. 

The  greater  the  knowledge,  the  greater 
the  responsibility.     Luke  xii.  47,  48. 

The  elder  son  is  rebuked.  Luke  xv. 
25-32. 

Judging  another   and  doing   the  same 

things,  is  mexcusable.     Rom.  ii.  I-16. 

The  name  of  God  is  blasphemed 
through  those  who,  teaching  others,  do 
not  teach  themselves.     Rom.  ii.  17-24. 


Destroy  not  him  for  whom  Christ  died 
Rom.  xiv.  10-23. 

An  open  door — let  no  man  take  ihy 
crown.     Rev.  iii.  8-11  ;  2  John  viii. 

Present  Blessings  in  Service. — 
God's  care  and  supply  deliver  from  fear 
of  want.     Matt.  vi.  25-34. 

God's  care  and  protection  deliver  from 
fear  of  man.     Matt.  x.  25-31. 

Wisdom  is  given  by  the  Spirit  in  time 
of  need-     Matt.  x.  18-20  ;  James  i.  C. 

The  companionship  of  Jesus.  Matt. 
xxviii.  20  ;  Mack  xvi.  20. 

Loss  for  the  gospel  s  s'.ike  i»  :.  hundred 
fold  rewarded.     Mark  x.  29,  30. 

We  are  enriched  in  utterance,  i  Cor. 
i-  5- 

We  have  deliverance  in  trouble.  2  Cor. 
i.  7-11  ;   1  Tim.  iv.  17,  18. 

Future  Blessings  on  Account  of 
Service. — Shininginheaven,  Dan. xii.  3. 

Greatness  in  heaven.     Matt.  v.  19. 

Treasures  in  heaven.     Matt,  vi,  19,  20. 

Confessed  in  heaven.     Matt.  x.  32. 

Reward  at  his  coming.     Matt.  xvi.  27. 

Ruling  with  Christ.  Matt.  xxiv.  45- 
47  ;  Matt.  xxv.  21,  23 ;  2  Tim.    i.  it,  12. 

Honor  from  the  Father.     John  xii.  26. 

An  incorruptible  crown,    i  Cor.  i^.25. 

A  crown  of  rejoicing,  i  Thess.  ii. 
19,   20. 

A  crown  of  righteousness.  2  Tim.  iv. 
5-8. 

An  unfading  crown  of  glory     i  Pet.  v. 

4. 

Reverence  and  Godly  Fear. — The 

judgment-seat    of  Christ.     2  Cor.  v,  10, 

II  ;  2  Tim.   iv.  I. 

Our  God  is  a  consuming  fire.  Heb.  xii, 
28,  29. 

Seeing  all  these  things  shall  be  dissolv- 
ed, what  manner  of  workers  ought  we  to 
be  !     2  Pet.  iii.    10-15. 


VI.— THE  OPPORTUNITIES. 
The  whole  of  the  "  Christian's  life 
here,  as  contrasted  with  the  life  hereafter, 
is  an  opportunity  to  tell  the  gospel. 
And  had  we  anointed  eyes,  and  were  we, 
as  led  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  en  the  watch 


132 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


for    opportunities,    we   should    see    them 
every  day,  and  many  times  a  day. 

Suggestions  from  the  Old  Testa- 
ment.— God's  words  are  to  be  in  our 
mouths,  at  home  and  abroad,  by  night 
and  by  day.     Deut.  vi.  6-9. 

The  sound  of  a  going  in  the  mulberry 
trees  is  a  signal  to  bestir  one's  self.  2 
Sam.  V.  24. 

One  wise  to  discern  opportunities  makes 
a  good  soldier,     i  Chron.  xii.  32. 
.  A  bow,  drawn  at  a  venture,  smote  a 
king  of  Israel  between  the  joints   of  his 
harness.     2  Chron.  xviii.  33. 

Teaching  in  the  New  Testament.- 
Every  man's  necessity  or  distress  is  our 
opportunity  to  minister  the  gospel.  Luke 
X.  29-37. 

Our  gospel  opportunities  are  now.  2 
Cor.  i.  2. 

As  we  have  opportunity,  let  us  do  good 

unto  all.     Gal.  vi.  10. 

Buying  up  the  time,  (every  opportunity). 
Eph.  V.  16  ;  Col.  iv.  5,  6. 

In  season,   out  of   season.      In   these 

passages,     the      words     "opportunity," 

"time,"    and    "season,"    are  the  same 

word  in  the  original.     2  Tim.  iv.  2. 

Exhort  one  another  daily,  while  it  is 
called  to-day.     Heb.  iii.  13. 

Jesus,  •  in  Every  Circumstance, 
FOUND  AN  Opportunity. — Wlien  walk- 
ing by  the  sea.     Matt.  iv.  18. 

When  teaching  in  the  synagogue. 
Matt.  iv.  23. 

When  multitudes  were  gathered.  Matt. 
V.  I  ;  Matt.  xiii.  2. 

When  he  was  asked.     Matt.  viii.  2,  5. 

Without  being  asked.     Matt.  viii.  14. 

When  men  would  have  nothing  to  do 
with  him.     Matt.  viii.  29. 

At  a  place  of  business.     Matt.  ix.  9. 

When  sitting  at  meat.     Matt.  ix.  10. 

Even  when  considered  unlawful.  Matt. 
xii.  10-12. 

When  inteiTupted.     Matt.  xii.  46,  50. 

When  he  went  out,  and  when  he  came 
in.     Matt.  xiii.  i,  36. 

In  his  own  town,  (Luke  iv.  16,)  and 
away  from  home.  Malt.  xv.  21-28;  Matt. 
xiii. '54-57. 


When  his  privacy  was  invaded.  Matt, 
xiv.  13. 

When  men  tried  to  catch  him  in  hii 
talk.     Matt.  xvi.  1-12. 

On  the  mount  of  vision.  Matt.  xvii. 
1. 13. 

In  the  valley  of  human  need-  Matt, 
xvii.  14-20. 

When  the  tax-gatherers  came  to  him. 
Matt.  xvii.  24-27. 

Taking  advantage  of  questions  pro- 
posed to  him.  Matt,  xviii.  i,  21  ;  Matt, 
xix.  3,  16,  27. 

When  his  enemies  sought  to  entangle 
him.     Matt.  xxii.  15,  23,  35. 

When  a  poor  woman  touched  him  in 
the  press,  on  his  way  to  a  ruler's  house. 
Mark  v.  25-34  ;  Cf  Matt.  xx.  29-34. 

When  he  overheard  disciples  disputing. 
Mark  ix.  33. 

As  he  sat  over  against  the  treasury. 
Mark  xii.  41. 

As  a  child  among  the  teachers  of  the 
law.     Luke  ii.  46-49. 

When  he  met  a  funeral  procession. 
Luke  vii.  12. 

When  his  attention  was  called  to  the 
persecution  of  God's  messenger.  Luke 
vii.  24. 

When  a  woman,  who  was  a  sinner, 
honored  him  in  the  presence  of  a  rich 
Pharisee.     Luke  vii.  37. 

When  men  in  jeopardy  awoke  him. 
Luke  viii.  23.  ^' 

When  men  would  learn  of  him  how  to 
pray.     Luke  xi.  I. 

When  a  woman  praised  him.  Luke 
xi.  27. 

When  men  were  shocked  at  his  disre- 
gard of  religious  proprieties.      Luke  xi. 

When  a  lawyer  (a  teacher  of  the  law — 
God's  word,)  winced  at  his  testimony. 
Luke  xi.  45. 

When  a  man  would  use  his  influence  to 
get  property  for  himself.     Luke  xii.  13. 

When  told  of  a  murder  and  an  accident. 
Luke  xiii.  1,4. 

When  an  abstract  theological  question 
was  proposed,  he  made  it  the  occasion  of 
a  pciional  admonition.     Luke  xiii.  23. 

When  men  would  stop  his  work  by 
warning  him  of  danger.     Luke  xiii.  31. 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


133 


When  men  contended  for  social  posi- 
tion.    Luke  xiv.  7. 

When  some  one  made  a  pious  observa- 
tion about  heaven.     Luke  xiv.  15. 

When  Pharisees  murmured  at  his  re- 
ceiving sinners.     Luke  xv.  2. 

When  covetous  men  derided  him. 
Luke  xvi.  14. 

When  he  met  self-satisfied  religious 
people.     Luke  xviii.  9. 

When  his  disciples  would  have  kept 
back  children.     Luke  xviii.  15. 

When  he  met  men  by  the  way,  he 
joined  them  that  he  might  open  to  them 
the  Scriptures.     Luke  xxiv.  13-32. 

When  men  gave  indication  of  interest. 
John  i.  38. 

When  he  attended  a  wedding.  John 
ii.  2. 

When  one  came  to  him  secretly.  John 
iii.  2. 

When  wearied  he  sat  on  the  well. 
John  iv.  6,  7. 

When  men  followed  him,  though  it 
was  only  for  loaves  and  fishes.  John 
vi.  26. 

When  men  were  thirsty.      John  vii.  37. 

To  a  blind  man  he  showed  the  Son  of 
God,  as  the  light  of  the  world.  John 
ix.  5. 

To  the  dead  he  preached  Jesus  and  the 
resurrection.  Cf.  Acts  viii.  35  ;  xvii.  18  ; 
John  xi.  I -45. 

Jesus  was  never  at  a  loss  to  introduce 
the  gospel.  He  made  whatever  was  be- 
fore men's  eyes  serve  as  an  opportunity  ; 
£.  g.  sowing,  grinding,  fishing,  a  shepherd 
and  his  sheep,  a  fig-tree,  a  vineyard, 
bread,  a  well  of  water,  the  birds,  the 
flowers,  the  wind,  the  sun.  In  all  this  he 
is  surely  our  example.  Every  life,  how- 
ever ordinary,  will  be  full  of  testimony 
and  blessing,  if  only  we  see  that  its  fa- 
miliar events  are  opportunities,  and  use 
them  for  the  Master. 


WHAT  AND  HOW  TO  PREACH. 

MAN   A  SINNER. 
Under  condemation   awaiting   penalty. 
Rom.  i.  ii.  iii. 

god's  remedy. 
Christ  crucified,    i  Cor.  ii.  2  ;  xv.  3  ;  i 
Peter  i.  19,  20  ;  Rev.  xiii.  8. 

I.  Christ    crucified    the    fulfilment   of 


the  word.  Gen.  iii.  15,  21  ;  iv.  4  ;  viii. 
20  ;  xxii.  7,  8  ;  xlii.  ;  Ex.  xii.  5-7.  The 
tabernacle  and  its  services  explained  by 
the  cross  :  so  the  sacrifices  and  feasts  of 
Leviticus :  so  the  miracles  of  Num.  xxi.  : 
so  Elijah  on  Carmel,  i  Kings  xviii.  :  so 
prophecies,  Isa.  liii.  The  shadow  of  the 
cross  reaches  from  Genesis  to  Revelation. 
We  can  take  hold  of  almost  any  verse  and 
lift  up  the  cross  from  it. 

2.  In  preaching  the  cross  we  show  the 
nature  of  sin,  Lukfe  xx.  13-15  ;  John  xv. 
24  ;  xvi.  9  ;  Acts  iii.  14  ;  Acts  vii.  52. 

3.  Wrath  of  God  against  sin,  Gal.  iii. 
13  ;  I  Peter  ii.  24  ;  iii.  18  ;  Lev.  xxvii. 
29  ;  Ps.  xl.  12  ;  xxii.  i  ;  Ixxxviii.  7,  14-16; 
Isa.  liii,  4-6,  10. 

4.  God's  love  to  the  sinner,  John  iii. 
16  ;  Rom.  V.  6-8  ;  iv.  25  ;  i  John  iii.  16 ; 
iv.  9,  10. 

5.  God  just  in  justification  of  those 
deserving  condemnation,  Rom.  iii.  24-26  ; 
Isa.  liii.  6  ;  John  v.  24 ;  i  John  i.  7  ; 
Rom.  V.  I  ;  vi.  6,  7,  22  ;  Rom.  viii.  i. 

PREACH  RESURRECTION. 

The  apostles  preached  it,  Acts  i.  22 ; 

ii.  24,  32  ;  iii.  15,  26  ;  iv.  10,  33  ;  v.  30. 

32  ;  vii.  55,  56  ;    x.   40-43  ;  xiU.   30-39 ; 

xvii.  31  ;  xxvi.  8-22,  23. 

DOCTRINES  AND  TRUTHS  CONCERNING 

CHRIST  PROVED  BY  IT. 

1.  Christ  as  Son  of  God,  Rom.  iv.  4  ; 
Heb.  I.  5. 

2.  The  promised  seed  of  .Abraham, 
Gal.  iii.  16  ;  Rom.  ix.  7  ;  Acts  xiii.   32, 

3.  The  promised  Son  of  David,  Acts  i. 
32  ;  xiii.  34. 

Justification  declared  by  it,  Rom.  iv. 
24-25  ;  V.  I  ;  I  Cor.  xv.  17. 

Eternallife  is  Christ's  resurrection  life 
in  us,  the  new  birth  linked  on  to  Him, 
John  iii.  3-5  ;  Rom.  vi.  3-5  ;  Rom.  vi.  22, 
23  ;  Gal.  ii.  20  ;  Eph.  i.  19-23  ;  ii.  5,  6. 

All  the  hopes  of  the  believer  centre  in 
the  coming  resurrection  of  his  own  body, 
of  which  the  resurrection  of  Christ's 
body  is  the  promise  and  type,   i  Cor.  xv. 


134 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


20-23,  49-52;  I  Thess.  iv.  14;  Rom.  viii. 
II,  19-25. 

HOW    TO    PREACH. 

Read  Luke  viii.,  ix.,  x.  Christ's  in- 
structions. 

1 .  The  preacher  should  be  in  conscious 
communion  with  God.  Psalm  li.  12,  13; 
Acts  iv.  31;  2  Timothy  i.  14;.  Acts  vi.  4; 

1  Cor.  ii.  12,  13. 

Peter  was  praying  when  he  was  sent  to 
Cornelius.  Paul  was  praying  when  the 
jailor  came  to  him. 

*' Instant  in  prayer,"    should  be   our! 
motto  if  we  would  have  power.  j 

2.  Boldness    in   use    of   God's    word,  i 
Confidence  in  our  weapon.     Rom.  i.  15, 1 
16;  I  Peter  iv.  11;  Titus  ii.  15;  Jer.  i.  6- 
10;  (study  Jeremiah's  experience  all  the 
way  through  upon  this  point)  i  Cor.  ii.  3 ; 

2  Cor.  iv.  8-10  ;  2  Cor.  vii.  4-6  ;  2  Cor. 
xii.  9,  10. 

3.  As  witnesses,  —  not  in  worldly 
wisdom  or  argument.  I  Cor.  i.  17-19;  I 
Cor.  ii.  4,  5  ;  2  Tim.  ii.  23-25.  Christ 
as  witness.  John  iii.  11,  32,  33;  so 
apostles,  Acts  x.  39,  41,  42;  xxii.  14,  15; 
Acts  xxvi.  22,  23;  2  Tim.  ii.  i,  2;  i  Tim. 
iv.  12. 

4.  Dependence  upon  Holy  Spirit.  Luke 
xxi.  15;  I  Thess.  i.  5;  Acts  v.  32. 

5.  With  sense  of  responsibility  to  God. 
I  Cor.  iii.  9  ;  Gal.  i.  10 ;  i  Cor.  iv.  3,  4 ; 
I  Thess.  ii.  4,  6. 

6.  Adaptation  to  men.  i  Cor.  ix.  20- 
22;  xiv.  18-20;  I  Cor.  X.  32-33. 

Keep  in  contact  with  men  by  engaging 
in  personal  work.  The  personal  applica- 
tion of  the  gospel  in  contact  with  indi- 
viduals should  go  hand-ih-hand  with 
preaching  to  audiences.  In  this  way 
we  keep  in  sympathy  with  men,  know 
their  needs  and  can  adapt  our  public 
presentations  of  truth  to  them.  Illus- 
trations to  make  the  gospel  clear  should 
be  freely  used,  always  making  them  the 
back -ground  of  the  picture  that  shows 
"Jesus  only." 

7.  In  humility,  i  Cor.  iy.  10-13;  Acts 
XX.  19. 


8.  In  sincerity,  2  Cor.  iv.  1,  2  ,  2  Ccr. 
ii.  17  ;  I  Thess.  ii.  3,  5. 

9.  In   love,    1    Cor.  xiii.   i;  2  Cor.  v 
20  ;  1  Thess   ii.  7-9. 

10.  With  joy,  Luke  x.  17  ;  Isa.  Ixiv.  5. 


FRUIT  BEARING. 

(John  >rv.  8.) 

Fruit  of  the  old  man.     Rom.    vi.   2J  ; 

Rom.  vii.  5. 
Fruit  of  the  new  man.     Rom.   vi.  22  j. 

Rom.  vii.  4  ;  Gal.  v.  22,  23. 

Fruit,  our  Father  expects.  Luke  xiii. 
6,  9     XX,  9,  io. 

Fruit,  a  mark  ol  God's  children,  MatL 
vii.  i6  ;   xii.  33. 

Fruit,  Secret  oi.  John  xv.  45  ;  Matt, 
xiii.  23  ;  Col.  1.  5,  6. 

Fruit,  Hindrance  to.  Matt.  xiii.  22  ;. 
Luke  viii.  14. 

Fruit,  Progressive.    Mark  iv.  28,  29. 

Fruit,  Subject  of  prayer.  2  Cor.  ix.. 
10  ;  Phil.  1.  II  ,  Col.  i.   ID. 

Fruit,  Not  necessarily  working.  2  Pet. 
i.  5  ;  Jas.  iii.  17,  18  ;  Phil.  iv.  17;  Heb. 
xiii-  15  ;  Rom.  xv.  28. 

Fruit,  Under  chasteninjj.   Heb,  xii.  ii, 

Fruit,  Not  leaves,  (profession).  Mark 
xi.  13,  14 

Fruit,  Resali  ol  Christ's  death.  Johni 
xii,  24. 

Fruit,  Result  of  not  bearing.  Jno.xv.2. 


The  God 
The  God 
The  God 
The  God 
The  God. 
The  God 
The  God 
The  Go.d 
The  God 
The  God 


OUR  GOD. 
of  trutti.     Deut.  xxxii*  4. 
of  all  grace,     i  Peter  v.  \Ov 
of  peace.     Phil.  iv.  9. 
of  love.     2  Ccr.  xiii.  11. 
of  all  comfort.     2  Cor.  i.  3. 
of  patience.     Rom.  xv.  5. 
of  hope.     Rom.  xv.  13. 
of  glory.     Acts  vii,  2. 
of  judgment.     Isa.  xxx.    18. 
of  mercies.     2  Cor.  i.  13. 


MUCH   FRUIT. 

John  XV.  8. 

1st,    Fruit  of   "conversion    of   souls." 
Rom.  13. 

2ndj   -'Fruit  unto  hohness."     Rom.  vi. 
22. 

3rd,     "The   fruit    of   our  lips,    giving 
1  thanks."     Heb.  xiii.  15. 

4th,  "The  fruit  of  giving."  Phil.iv.  17. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


135 


WINNING  SOULS. 
He  that  winneth  souls  is  wise.  Pro.  xi.  30. 

1.  Our  Prayer.— Acts  ix.  6  ;  Psa. 
cxliii.   10  ;  Psa.  li. 

2.  Our  Field. —Mark  xvi.  15  ;  John  i. 
41,  42,  45  ;  John  iv.  28,  29  ;  Mark  v.  19, 
20  ;  Acts  viii.  26,  &c.  ;  Acts  xvi.  13-15 
and  30-34  ;  Jas.  v.  20. 

3.  Our  Time. — Matt.  xxi.  28  ;  2  Cor. 
vi.  2  ;  Ecc.  ix.  10  ;  2  Thess.  iii.  13  ;  Rev, 
xxii.  7. 

4.  Our  Motive. — 2  Cor.  v.  14  ;  Col. 
iii.  23  ;  John  xxi.  15-17. 

5.  Our  Helper. — Matt,  xxviii.  20 ;  2 
Cor.  xii.  9  ;  John  xy.  5  ;  Heb.  xiii.  5. 

6.  Our  Theme.— John  iii.  16  ;  Gal. 
vi.  14  ;  I  Tim.  i.  15  ;  Rom.  iv.  25  ;  v.  i, 
2  ;  John  V.  24. 

7.  Our  Message. — Ezek.  xxxiii.  11  ; 
2  Tim.  iv.  2  ;  Rom.  i.  16  ;  i  Cor.  i.  18 ; 
I  Thess.  ii.  4  ;  Eph.  vi.  17. 

8.  Our  Strength  (or  Power.) — Zee. 
iv.  6  ;  John  xiv.  16,  17,  26  ;  John  xv. 
26  ;  John  xvi.  7-11,   13  ;  Acts  i.  8;  ii. 

1-4  ;  iv.  3i»  33- 

9.  Our  Example.— ^John  ix.  4 ;  Luke 
ii.  49  ;  Rom.  x.  i  ;  Acts  viii.  26,  &c. 

10.  Our  Reward. — Matt.  xxv.  23  ;  2 
Tim.  iv.  8  ;  Ps.  cxxvi.  6  ;  Rev.  xxii.  12. 

S.  R.  Briggs. 


GOD'S  THOUGHTS. 

Higher  than  your  thoughts.    Is.  iv.  9. 

Thoughts  of  peace  and  not  evil.  Jer. 
xxix.  II. 

Very  deep.     Psalm  xcii.  5. 

Precious  unto  me.     Psalm  cxxxix.  17. 

Cannot  be  reckoned  up.     Psalm  xl.  5. 

More  than  can  be  numbered.  Ps.  xl.  5. 

Prayer. — Think  upon  me,  my  God. 
Neh.  V.  19. 

Assurance. — The  Lord  thinketh  upon 
me.     Psalm  xl.  17. 


GOD'S  WORDS. 
Every  Word  of  God  is  pure. 
XXX.  5. 


Prov. 


The  Word  of  God  is  a  discemer  of 
the  thoughts  and  intents  of  the  heart. 
Heb.  iv.  12. 

Thy  Word  is  a  lamp  unto  my  feet,  and 
a  light  unto   my  path.     Psalm  ex  ix.   105. 

Thy  W^ord  is  truth.     John  xvii.  17. 

Thy  W^ord  v^ras  unto  me  the  joy  and 
rejoicing  of  mine  heart.    Jer.  xv.  16. 

How  sweert  are  thy  Words  to  my  taste. 
Psalm  cxix.  103. 


OUR  WORDS. 

"What  manner  of  communications  are 
these  that  ye  have  one  to  another?  " — 
(Luke.  xxiv.  17.) 

I  speak  of  things  touching  the  King. 
Psalm  xlv.  I. 

His  praise  shall  continually  be  in  my 
mouth.     Psalm  xxxiv.  i. 

I  will  speak  of  the  honour  of  Thy 
majesty.     Psalm  cxlv.  5. 

My  tongue  shall  talk  of  Thy  righteous- 
ness all  the  day  long.     Psalm  Ixxi.  24. 

I  will  speak  of  Thy  testimonies.  Psa. 
cxix.  46. 

I  will  mention  the  loving-kindness  of 
the  Lord.     Isaiah  Ixiii.  7. 

My  tongue  shall  speak  of  Thy  Word. 
Psalm  cxix.  172. 

Ah,  Lord  God !  behold  I  cannot  speak. 
Jer.  i.  6. 

When  I  speak  with  thee  I  will  open  thy 
mouth.     Ezek.  iii.  27. 

It  is  not  ye  that  speak,  but  the  Spirit 
of  your  Father  which  speaketh  in  you. 
Matt.  X.  20. 


GOD  OUR  ROCK. 

Salvation. — 2  Sam.  xxii.  47. 
Stability. — Matt.  vii.  24,  25  ;  Matt.  xvi. 
1,8. 
Security. — Psalm  xciv.  22. 
Shelter. — Psalm  Ixi.  3. 
Satisfaction. — i  Cor.  x.  4. 
Strength.— Psalm  xxxi.  2.  {Marg.) 
Shadow. — Isaiah  xxxii.  2. 


TITLES  OF  GOD. 
Jehovah,  I   am,  was,  and  shall    be. 
Jehovah   Elohim,  the  Lord  God.      Gen. 


The  Word  of  God  is  quick  and  power-  j  ii.    14.    Jehovah   Jireh,    the    Lord    will 
ful.     Heb.  iv.  12.  [provide.  Gen.  xxii.  14.    Jehovah  Rophi, 


136 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


the  I,ord  that  tiealeth  thee,  or  thy 
physician.  Ex.  xv.  22  Jehovata  Nissi. 
the  IxiTd  my  banner.  Ex.  xvii  24. 
Jehovah  Shalom,  the  Lord  send  peace. 
Judges  VI.  25.  Jehovah  Tsidkenn.  the 
Lord  our  Righteousness  jer.  xxih.  6. 
Jehovah  Shammah,  the  Lord  is  there. 
Ezek.  xlviii.  35. 


TWO    THINGS  TAUGHT  BY  GOD 

HIMSELF. 

1.  CoNfiNG  TO  Christ. — It    is  written 
in  the  prophets,  and  they   shall  be   all 
taught  of  God.       Every   man    therefore 
that  hath  heard,  and  hath  learned  oj  the  \ 
Father,  cotneti  unto  Me.     John   vi.  45. 

2.  Brotherly  Love. — But  as  teaching 
brotherly  love,  ye  need  not  that  I  write 
unto  you;  for  ye  yourselves  are  taught 
of  God  to  love  one  another,     i  Thess.iv.g.  j 


GOD'S  COVENANT. 

With  David — 2  Sam.  vti  1029  ^ 
Sam.  xxiii.  1-5:  Luke  i  30-33,  Luke  i. 
67-75.  ^'^cts  ii.  29-36;  Acts  xiii.  32-39. 
Acts  1.  9-1 1 ;  Isaiah  xi.  32.     . 

With  Me. — i  Tim.  i.  15;  i  John  i.  25 
I  Peter  1.  3;  John  xiv.  1-3;  John  in.  16  . 
John  iii.  36;   i  Cor.  iii.  23  ,  John  iii.  33 

Made  by  God. 

Sealed  by  Christ. 

Accepted  by  Me. 

Witnessed  by  the  Holy  Spirit 


THE  SHINING   OF    GODS  COUN- 
TENANCE GIVES 
Peace. — Numbers  vi,  26. 
Savmg  Health, — Psalm  Ixvii.  i.  2, 
Salvation. — Psalm  Ixxx.  3,  7,  rg. 
By  which  we  are  taught  God  s  statutes 
Psalm  cxix.  135, 


COVENANTS  OF  GOD  WITH  HIS 
PEOPLE. 

The  covenant  of  law.  Exodus  xxxiv. 
10-28  ;  Deut.  V.  2-21 . 

The  covenant  of  redemption  Gen. 
iii.  15. 

The   covenant  of  peace.     Isaiah   liv. 

10:  Ez.  xxxiv.  25,  and  xxxvii.  26. 

The  covenant  of  possession  Exodus 
xxix.  45-46;  Deut.  xxix.  13. 

The  covenant  of  safety.  Gen  vi.  18  ; 
viii.  21-22,  and  ix.  9-17. 

The  covenant  of  prosperity  and  bles- 
sing. Genesis  vii.  1-13;  xii.  1-3;  xv.  18, 
and  xxii.  17-18;  Exodus  xix.  1-6;  Isgiah  '  tus  i.  9  ;   Eph.   iii.  17,  18  ;   Eph.    vi.  11. 


ABLE. 
Power  of  God's  word  as  an  instrument 
of  spiritual   transformation.     2   Tim.    iii. 
15-17  ;  2    Cor.  X.   4  ;  Acts   xx.  32  ;  Jas.  i. 

21. 

God  able  to  do  in  and  through  us. 
Matt.  ix.  28  ;  Luke  iii.  8. 

Even  the  most  unpromising.     Rom.  iv. 

20,  21  ;  Heb.  xi.  19  ;  Rom.  xiv.  4  ;  Heb. 

ii.  18  ;  John  x.  29 ;  Rom.  viii.  39  ;  2  Tim. 

i.  12  ;  2  Cor.  ix.  8  ;  Eph.   iii.  20  ;   Heb. 

vii.  25 ;  Phil.  iii.  21 ;  Matt.  ix.   26  ;  Mark 
Mark  ix.  23. 

Human  "ables"  when  guided  by  Divine 
strength.     2  Tim.  ii.  2  ;  2  Cor.  iii.  6  ;  Ti- 


lix  2;. 

The   covenant    of    knowledge. 
zxxi.  31. 


Jer. 


COVENANTS  OF  MAN  WITH  MAN 
TOWARDS  GOD. 
The  covenant  of  union.     Jer.  I,  5. 
The  covenant  of  separation.     Ez.  x.3. 

The  covenant  of  search.  2  Chron.xv. 
12. 

The  covenant  of  obedience.  2  Kings 
i;xiii.  3. 

The  covenant  of  walk.     Neh.  x.  29. 

The  covenant  of  service.  Joshua 
xxiv.  25. 

The  covenant  of  possession.  2  Kings 
5"  17.  S.  C.  W.  H. 


16  ;  I    Cor.  X.  13  ;  Jas.  iii.  2  ;  2  Pet. 
15- 

—Mrs.  M- 


GOD  IS  LOVE. 

He  calls  us  sons,     i  John  iii.  1, 

His  love  is  everlasting.  Jeremiah 
xxxi.  3. 

He  is  for  us.     Romans  viii.  31. 

He  gave  His  Son  for  us.  John  iii.  16  , 
JRomans  viii.  32. 

Who  shall  separate  us  from  the  love. 
Romans  viii.  35. 

Nothing  shall  be  able,  &c.  Romans 
^'iii.  39- 

We  are  safe  in  His  love  (No  aian,  &c.) 
John  X.  28. 

The  extent  of  His  love  (Unto  the  end.) 
junn  xiii.  i. 


NOTES  FOR  BIBLE  READINGS. 


137 


He  will  come  Again  for  us.  John  xiv.  3. 

He   takes  up  His   abode  in  us.     John 
«iv.  23. 

He  chastens  us  because  He  loves  us. 
Hebrews  xii.  6. 

He    will   never  forsake   us.     Hebrews 
-xiii.  5. 

He   sticketh   closer  than  a  brother   to 
us.     Proverbs  xviii.  24. 

He    has    graven    us    on     His    hands. 
Isaiah  xlix.  16. 

He  has  gone  to  prepare  a  place  for  us. 
John  xiv.  2. 

His  love  gives  peace.     John  xiv.  27. 

He  loves  us  as  the  Father  loves. 
John  XV.  9. 

He  cares  for  us.     i  Peter  v.  7. 

He  gives  us  rest.     Matthew  xi.  28. 


GOD'S  GIFTS.— NEW  TESTAMENT. 

Every  good  and  perfect  gift  from  God. 
James  i.  17. 

The  Gift.  John  iii.  16  ;  2  Cor.  ix.  15  ; 
Gal.  ii.  20. 

The  living  water.     John  iv.  10. 

The  true  bread.     John  vi.  32. 

All  things  freely.     Rom.  viii.  32. 

Eternal  life.    John  x.  28  ;  Rom.  vi.  23. 

Rest.     Matt.  xi.  28. 

Peace.     John  xiv.  27. 

The  Spirit.     John  xiv.  16  ;  Rom.  v.  5. 

Grace.     Eph.  ii.  8. 

More  grace.    James  iv.  6. 

Whatsoever  ye  ask.    John  xvi.  23. 

Good  things.     Matt.  vii.  II. 

Exceeding  great  and  precious  promises. 
:2  Peter  i.  4. 

Power  to  overcome.     Luke  x.  19. 

God's  word.    John  xvii.  8,  14. 

The  glory  of  Jesus.    John  xvii.  22. 

All  things  that  pertain  to  life  and  godli- 
tiess.     2  Peter  i.  3. 

All  things  richly  to  enjoy,   i  Tim.  \i.  17. 

The  crown  of  righteousness.  2  Tim. 
iv.  8. 

A  crown  of  life.     Rev.  ii.  10. 

White  robe.     Rev.  vi.  11. 


GOD'S  "UNSPEAKABLE  GIFT." 
(2  Cor.  ix.  15.) 

Unto  us  a  Son  is  given.  Luke  ii.  10, 
a  I  ;  Isaiah  ix.  6. 

Given  for  a  "  covenant,  a  light."  Heb. 
;  ii.  24  ;  John  viii.  12  ;  Isaiah  xiii.  6. 

Given  for  a  ' '  witness,  a  leader,  a  com- 
■anander."  Rev.  i.  5  ;  vii.  17  ;  Isaiah  Iv.  4. 

God  .  .  gave  His  only  begotten  Son. 
Eph.  i.  22  ;  John  iii.  16. 

None  other  name  given  among  men 
whereby  we  must  be  saved.     Acts  iv.  12. 


The  gift  of  God  is  eternal  life  through 
Jesus  Christ.     Rom,  vi.  23. 

God  hath  given  to  us  eternal  life,  and 
this  lifi  isin  His  Son.     I  John  v.  11. 

A  free  gift.     Rom.  v.  15-18.. 

CHRIST   GAVE   HIMSELF. 

The  good  Shepherd  giveth  His  life 
for  the  sheep.     John  x.  1.1. 

Christ  hath  loved  us  and  given  Him- 
self for  us.     Eph.  V.  2. 

Christ  also  loved  the  Church,  and 
gave  Himself  for  it.     Eph.  v.  25. 

Who  gave  Himself  for  our  sins.  Gal. 
i.  4. 

Who  gave  Himself  for  me.     Gal.  ii.  20. 

Who  gave  Himself  a  ransom  for  all. 
I  Tim.  ii.  6. 

Who  gave  Himself  for  us,  that  He 
might  redeem  us.     Titus  ii.  14. 


GIFTS  IN   THE   UNSPEAKABLE 
GIFT. 

I  will  give  you  rest.     Matt.  xi.  28. 

It  is  your  Father's  good  pleasure  to 
give  you  the  kingdom.     Luke  xii.  32. 

He  gave  power  to  become  sons  of  God. 
John  i.  12. 

Living  water.  John  vii.  37-39  ;  John 
iv.  10,  14,  15. 

Bread  of  life.  John  vi.  51,  52  ;  John 
vi.  27,  31.34. 

Eternal  life.  John  xvii.  2  ;  John  x. 
28. 

An  example,     i  Pet.  ii.  21  ;  John  xiii. 

15- 
My  peace.     Rom.  v.  i  ;  John  xiv.  27. 

Whatsoever  ye  shall  ask.  Luke  xi.  9  ; 
John  xvi.  23. 

The  words  which  Thou  gavest  me. 
John  xvii.  14  ;  John  xvii.  8. 

The  glory  which  Thou  gavest  me.  2 
Cor.  iii.  18  ;  John  xvii.  22. 

He  shall  give  you  another  Comforter. 
Luke  xi.  13  ;  John  xiv.  16. 

Ye  shall  receive  the  gift  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.     Acts  V.  32  ;  Acts  ii.  38. 

God  hath  given  unto  us  the  earnest  of 
the  Spirit.     2  Cor.  i.  22  ;  2  Cor.  v.  5. 

God  hath  given  unto  us  his  Holy  Spirit. 
I  Thess.  iv.  8. 

The  Spirit  which  He  hath  given  us.  i 
John  iv.  13  ;  i  John  iii.  24. 

The  Spirit that  we  might 

know  the  things  freely  given  to  us  of 
God.     I  Cor.  ii.  12. 

Gifts  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  Rom.  xii. 
6  ;   I  Cor.  xii.  4-11. 


138 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


Love  of  God  ....  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
whicli  is  given  unto  us.     Rom.  v.  5. 

God  hath  shined  in  our  hearts  to  give 
the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of 
God,  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ.  Luke  i. 
77,  79;  2  Cor.  vi.  6. 

Spirit  of  wisdom  and  revelation.'  Eph. 
i.  17. 

Spirit  of  power,  and  of  love,  and  of  a 
sound  mind.     2  Tim.  i.  7. 

A  Saviour,  to  give  repentance  and  for- 
giveness of  sins.     Acts  v.  31. 

Saved  by  grace  through  faith  .  .  .  the 
gift  of  God.     Eph.  ii.  8. 

His  own  purpose  and  grace  given  us  in 
Christ  Jesus.     Eph.  v.  7;  2  Tim.  i.  9. 

Given  us  everlasting  consolation  and 
good  hope  through  grace.  2  Thess.  ii.  16. 

He  giveth  more  grace — giveth  grace 
unto  the  humble.     James  iv.  6. 

Wisdom.  Every  good  and  perfect  gift, 
James  i.  5,  17. 

.  Understanding.    2  Tim.  iii.  16. — Scrip- 
ture.    I  Jolin  v.  20. 

With  Him  freely  give  us  all  things,  i 
Tim.  vi.  17;  Rom.  viii.  32. 

All  things  which  pertain  to  life  and 
godliness.     2  Peter  i.  3. 

Exceeding  great  and  precious  promises. 
2  Peter  i.  4. 

Ministry  of  reconciliation.  Eph.  iii.  7, 
8;  2  Cor.  v.  18. 

Ability,  i  Cor.  iii.  7.  The  increase. 
I  Peter  iv.  1 1 . 

Unto  you  it  is  given,  not  only  to  be- 
lieve, but  to  suffer.  Matt.  x.  19;  Phil,  i, 
29. 

To  eat  of  tree  of  life.     Rev.  ii.  7. 

A  crown  of  life.     Rev.  ii.  10. 

Hidden  manna.     Rev.  ii.  17. 

A  white  stone,  a  new  name.  Rev.  ii.17. 

Power  over  the  nations.     Rev.  ii.  26. 

A  crown  of  righteousness.  2  Tim.  .iv.8. 

Victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
I  Cor.  XV.  57. 

The  Morning  Star.     Rev.  ii.  28. 

White  robes.     Rev.  vi.  ii. 

Water  of  life  freely.     Rev.  xxi.  6. 

Light.     Rev.  xxii.  5. 

Reward,  according  to  work.  Rev.  xx. 
12. 


He   hath   sent  Me to   give    unto 

them  beauty  for  ashes,   the.  oil  of  joy  for 

mourning,  the  garment  of  praise  for  the 

spirit  of  heaviness.     Isaiah  xli.  3. 

The  Lord  will  give  grace  and  glory. — 
Psalm  Ixxxiv.  11. 

The  Lord  will  give  strength  unto  His- 
people.     Psalm  xxix.  11. 

He  giveth  grace  unto  the  lowly. 
Proverbs  iii.  34. 

He  giveth  power  to  the  faint.  Isaiah 
xl.  29. 

He  shall  give  His  angels  charge  over 
thee.     Psalm  xci.  ii;  Psalm  Ixxi.  3. 

So  He  giveth  His  beloved  sleep.  Psalm, 
cxxvii.  2. 

I  will  give  them  an  heart  to  know  Me. 
Jer.  xxiv.  7. 

A  new  heart  will  I  give  you.  I  will! 
give  you  a  heart  of  flesh.  Ezekiel  xxxvi. 
26. 

Delight  thyself  in  the  Lord;  and  He- 
shall  give  thee  the  desires  of  thine  hearts 
Psalm  xxxvii.  4. 


THE  WILL  OF  GOD. 

"Understanding  what  the  will  of  God! 
is."— Eph.  V.  17. 


Jesus  our  example. — John  vi.  38;. 
John  V.  30;  John  iv.-34;  Johnix.  4;  John 
xvii.  4;  Psalm  xl.  8;  John  viii.  28;  Luke 
xxii.  44;  I  Peter  ii.  21. 

His  will  towards  us.  —  2  Peter  iii. 
9  ;  Luke  xiv.  42,  44  ;  James  i.  18  ;  John 
vi.  40  ;  John  iii.  16  ;  John  xi.  25  ;  Eph. 
i.  5;  Eph.  ii.  19  ;  Phil.  iii.  20;  i  Thess.. 
iv.  3;  Eph.  i.  4;  John  vi.  39;  Matt.  xvii. 
14;  Joha  x.  28  ;  Luke  xii.  32  ;  i  Sam.  ii^ 
8 ;  Rev.  iii.  21  ;  Eph.  i.  9,  10 ;  John  x.. 
16;  John  xi.  52. 

How  to  learn  his  will.  —  Phil.  ii. 
13;  Heb.  xiii.  21;  2  Cor.  iii.  5;  Rom. 
xii.  I,  2;  Rom.  vi.  13;  i  Chron.  xxix.  5;. 
I  John  V.  14;  Rom.  viii.  27;  Ps.  cxliii. 
10;  Psalm  ex.  3;  John  vii.  17;  Psalmi 
cxi.  10;  Psalm  cxix.  99;  Eph.  v.  17;, 
John  xvi.  13;  Col.  i.  9;  Eph.  iii.  19;. 
John  i.  16. 

How  TO  DO  HIS  will.  — Eph.  vi.  6; 
I  Peter  iv.  2  ;  Col.  iii.  23  ;  James  iv.  15  ;; 
Acts  xxi.  14  ;    Rom.  i.  10  ;    Ezra  vii.  18  ;. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


I  39" 


I  Thess.  V.  i8;  Psalm  Ixix.  30;  i  Peter 
ii.  15  .  Epk.  ii.  10;  John  xiv.  23  ;  Matt. 
vii.  ai ;  Luke  xii.  47  ;  James  iv.  17. 

The  end — Everlasting  Life. — i 
Jokn  ii.  17;  Col.  iv.  12;  Eph.  iv.  13; 
Heb.  xiii.  20,  21;  2  Cor.  ix.  8;  John 
xvii  24  ;  Rev.  iii.  4  ;  Rev.  xxii.  3.  4  ;  i 
Thess.  iv.  17. 


Unbelief  says.    God    hath    forgotten : 
faith    says,    I    will   remember   the   past 

power  of  His  right  hand.     Psalm  Ixxvii. 
9,   10. 

His  right  hand  upholdeth  me  from  the 
enemy.     Psalm  Ixiii.  8. 

His  right  hand  doth  embrace  me  with 
j  affection  and  love — giving  security  and 
I  rest.     Cant.  ii.  6;  viii.  3. 


SEPARATION. 

God's  command. — 2  Cor.  vi.  17 ;  Rom. 
xii.  2;  I  John  ii.  15,  16. 

Christ's  declaration. — Matt.  vi.  24  : 
Matt.  vii.  21  i  Matt.  x.  34-40;  John  xv. 
.18-20 

The  choice. — Heb.  xi.  24,  25,  26. 

The  promise  to  the  faithful. — Mark  x. 
29,  30.  2  Cor.  vi.  18  ;  Rev.  ii.  10. 


THE  GREAT  THINGS  OF  GOD. 

O,  the  depth  of  the  riches  of  God. 
Gift  unspeakable.  2  Cor.  ix.  15.  Grace 
exceeding  abundant.  i  Tim.  i.  14 ; 
Eph.  ii.  7.  Greatness  unsearchable. 
Psalm  cxlv.  3.  Joy  unspeakable.  i 
Peter  i.  8.  Judgments  unsearchable. 
Rom.  xi.  33.  Love  that  passeth  know- 
ledge. Eph.  iii.  ig.  Peace  that  passeth 
all  understanding.  Phil,  iv,  7.  Power 
exceeding  great.  Eph,  i.  19.  Promises 
exceeding  great  and  precious.  2  Peter 
i.  4.  .Miches  unsearchable.  Eph.  iii.  8. 
Ways  past  finding  out.  Rom.  xl.  33. 
Weight  of  glory  exceeding  and  eternal. 
2  Cor.  iv.  17. 


THE    NAMES    THE    APOSTLES 
GIVE   TO   GOD. 

God  is  light,     i  John  i.  5. 

God  is  love      i  Jchri  iv,  8. 

St.  Matthew  characterizes  the  Lord 
as  the  King  01  the  Jews. 

St.  Mark  characterizes  the  Lord  as 
the  Perfect  Servant, 

St.  Luke  characterizes  the  Lord  as 
the  Son  of  Man 

St.  John  characterizes  the  Lord  as 
the  Son  of  God. 


THE    RIGHT     HAND    OF    THE 
LORD. 

Power  in  redemption.     Exodus  xv.  6. 

The  Lord  is  at  my  right  hand — comfort 

for  the  desponding.     Psalm  xvi.  8. 


TWELVE    THOUGHTS    ABOUT 
GOD. 

1.  The  fatherhood  of  God      1  will  be 

his  Father,     i  Chron.  xxviii.  6 ;  Matt, 
vi.  9, 

2.  The  bounty  of  God.  1  will  give 
thee  riches.     2  Chron.  i.  12;  Eph,  ii.  7. 

3.  The  most  holy  God,  The  most 
holy  house,     2  Chron.  iii.  8,     Rev.  iv,  8, 

4.  The  covenant-keeping  God,  Per- 
formed His  word.  1  Kings  viii.  20; 
Psalm  Ixxxix.  34, 

5.  The  prayer-hearing  God.  Hear 
thou  in  heaven,  i  Kings  viii.  30;  Isaiah 
Ixv.  24. 

6.  The  ever-loving  God,    Loved  Israel 

forever,     r  Kings  x.  9  ;  John  iii.  16. 

7.  The  self-revealing  God.  I  will  make 
known.     Prov,  i.  23;  Exodus  xxxiv.  6.7, 

8.  The  law  giving  God.  Forget  not 
my  laws,     Prov  iii.   i  ;    James  iv.  12. 

5.  The  sin-hating  God.  These  dctb 
the  Lord  hate.  Prov,  vi.  id,  Zech. 
viii,   17. 

10.  The  kindly-warning  God.  Look 
not  thou,     Prov.  xxii.  ;  Ezk.  iii.  }-j 

11.  The  virtue-loving  God.  Above 
rubies.     Prov   xxxi.  10  ;  Psalm  xxiv,  4. 

12.  The  judgment  rending  God.  Bring 
into  judgment.  Ecc.  xii.  14;  Acts  xvii, 
31. 

GOD  OUR  GUIDE. 

We  need  a  guide.  Rom.  iii.  12;  Isaiah 
Ii.  18;  Isa.  liii.  6;  i  Peter  ii.  25;  Luke 
XIX.  10. 

God  desires  to  guide  us.  Jer.  iii.  4  ; 
Isaiah  Iv.  4  ;  Psalm  xxv.  9  ;  Psalm  Ixxx. 
I  ;  Isaiah  xlviii.  27;  xlii.  16;  xlviii.  17, 

Why?     Isaiah  Ixiii.  14. 

God  must  be  our  only  guide.  Deut, 
xii.  12. 


f40 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


The  only   ground   on   which    we   can  i 
seekguidance.   Psalmxxxi.3,  andxxiii.  3. 

HOW    GOD    GUIDES    US.  ' 

( 

By  His  Word.  Psalm  cxix.  105 ;  2 
Tim.  iii.  16. 

By  His  Spirit.  Eze.  xxxvi.  27  ;  xi.ig; 
John  xvi.   13  ;  Rom.  viii.  14. 

By  His  Providence.  Psalm  xxxvii.23; 
Pro.  xvi.  9. 

By  His  eye.     Psalm  xxxii.  8. 

By  His  counsel.     Psalm  Ixxiii.  24. 

By  His  hands.     Psalm  Ixxviii.  72. 

By  His  voice.  Isaiah  xxx.  21 ;  Pro. 
viii.  4  ;  Psalm  Ixxxi.  11 ;  John  x.  3-5. 

By  His  strength.     Exodus  xv.  13. 

On  every  side.     2  Chron.  xxxii.  22. 

By  trial.  Deut.  xxxii.  10-11;  Isaiah 
xlii.  16  ;  Jer.  xxxi.  9  ;  Cant.  viii.  5  ;  Prov. 
xvi.  9. 

WHERE    GOD    GUIDES    US. 

Into  all  truth.  John  xvi.  13;  Psalm 
xliii.  3. 

Into  the  way  of  peace.      Luke   i.  79  ; 

Psalm  cxxxix.  24  ;  Prov.  viii.  20. 

To  repentance.    Rom.  ii.4:  Prov. i. 23. 

In  the  wilderness.     Psalm  Ixxviii.  52. 

By  springs  of  water.  Isaiah  xlix.  10; 
Psalm  xxiii,  2  ;  John  iv.  10. 

How  long?  Psalm  xlviii.  14;  Exodus 
xii'2i,  22;  Isaiahlviii.il. 

Even  when  straying.   Isaiah  Ivii.  17-18. 

In  heaven  forever.   Rev.vii.  17;  xiv.  4. 

Other  guides  lead  to  destruction. 
Matt.  vii.  13  :  xv.  14  ;  xxiii.  16. 


GOD  GIVES  TO  ALL. 

Breath,  spirit.     Isaiah  xlii.  5. 

The  sun  for  a  light.     Jer.  xxxi.  35. 

Seed-time  and  harvest.     Gen.  viii.  22 

Food  to  all  flesh.    Psalm  cxxxvi.  25. 

Life,  breath,  and  all  things.    Acts  xvii 

25- 
Openest  thy  hand.    Psalm  cxlv.  15,  16 

To  all  men  liberally.     James  i.  5. 

Every  man    according    to    his  works 

Rev.  ii.  23. 

Tender  merices  over  all.     Ps.  cxlv.  9. 

GOD  GIVES  TO  BELIEVERS. 
The  living  bread.     John  v.  51. 
Giveth  liglit.      Ps.  cxix.    130. 
A  mouth  and  wisdom.     Luke  xxi.  15. 
Songs  in  the  night.     Job  xxxv.    10 
Sufficient  grace.     2  Cor.  xii,  8,  9. 
All  things.     1  Tim.  vi.  17. 
The  victory.      1  Cor.  xv.  55,  57. 
Crown  laid  up.     2  Tim.  iv.  8. 
To  sit  on  His  throne.     Rev.  iii.  21. 
A  lively  hope.     1  Pet.  i.  3,  &c. 
More  grace.    James  iv.  6. 


GOD  S   KNOWLEDGE   OF  MAN. 

Read  cxxxix  Psalm. 

I  Chron.  xxviii.  9;  jer.  xvii.  10  ;  Psa. 
xliv.  21  ;  Acts  XV.  8-18  ;  Heb.  iv.  12-13  : 
John  xxi.  17;  John  ii.  24-25;  i  Sam. xvi. 
7  ;  2  Chron.  vi.  30 ;  Jer.  xxxii.  18-19;  Job 
xxxiv.  21-22  ;  Psalm  xvi.  7  ;  Prov.  v.  21; 
Prov.  XV.  3  ;  Acts  i.  24  ;  Matt.  ix.  4;  John 
vi.  64  ;  John  xvi.  30 ;  i  Thess.  ii.  4;  Rev. 
ii.  23. 


Rom 
iii.  14, 
John  X. 
31,  39 


GOD  THE  GIVER. 
vii.  23  ;  1   John  v.   11-13  ;  John 
16  ;  2  Cor.  ix.  15  ;  Gal.  ii.   20  ; 
27-29  ;  Eph.  ii.  4-10  ;  Rom-  viii. 

I  Cor.  iii.  21-23  ;  Rom.  xi.  29  ; 


Acts  xxvi.  18 

Rom.  vi.  I4. 
ii.  I. 


Num.  xxiii.  19. 


GOD  DELIVERS  HIS  PEOPLE 
FROM 

The  power  of  Satan. 
Ps.  cxxiv.  7. 
The  dominion  of  sin. 
Spiritual  death.     Eph. 
The  horrible  pit.     Ps.  xl.  2  ;  xxxii.  5 
The  unrest  of  the  wicked,     Isa.  Ivii,  20. 
The  fear  of  death.     Heb.  ii.   15. 
The  wrath  to  come.      1  Thess.  i.  10. 
A11  evil.     Gen.  xlviii.   16. 
The  fear  of  man.     Prov.  xxix.  25. 
The  love  of  money,      i  Tim.  vi.  iO,il. 
Out  of  trouble,     Rs.  Uv.  7. 
Anxious  care.     Phil.  iv.  6. 

GOD  CALLS  HIS  PEOPLE  TO 
Marvellous  light.      i  Pet.  li.  9;  v.  10 
Consecration  and  holiness.     Rom.  xii 
I  ;  2  Thes.  iv.  7. 
Liberty.     Gal.  v.  13. 
The  fellowship  of  Christ,      i  Cor.  i.  9. 
Heavenly  inheritance.     I  Pet.  i.  4. 
Patience  and  suffering,      i  Pet.  ii.  20. 
Eternal  glory.     I  Pet.  v.  lO. 
Peace.     Col.  iii.  15. 
By  name.     Isa.  xliii.  i  ;  John  x.  3. 
According  to  his  purpose.    2  Tim.  i.  9 
To  walk  before  him.     Gen.  xvii.  i. 
To  the  fight  of  faith,  &c    I  Tim-  vi.  12. 


NOTES  FOR  BIBLE  READINGS. 


141 


THE  LORD  OUR  HELPER. 
Vain  is  the  help  of  man.     Ps.  Ix.  11. 
Fear  not,  I  will  help.     Isa.  xli.  10. 
My  helper,  I  will  not  fear.  Heb.  xiii.  6. 
Very  present.     Ps.  xlvi.  i  ;  Ixxii.  12. 
Help  of  His  countenance.     Ps.  xlii.  5. 
Shield  of  thy  help.     Deut.  xxxiii.  29. 
Power  to 'help.     2  Chron.  xxv.  8. 
Hitherto,   i  Sam.  vi.  12  ;  Actsxxvi.  22. 
Thy  judgments.     Ps.  cxix.  173,  175. 
Lord,  help  me.     Matt.  xv.  25. 
Name  of  the  Lord.     Ps.  cxxiv.  8. 


THE  LORD  OUR  STRENGTH. 

Our  refuge  and  strength.     Ps.  xlvi.  I. 

Strength  of  heart  and  life.     Ps.  xxvii. 
1  ;  Ixxiii.  26. 

Strength  in  my  soul.     Ps.  cxxxviii.  3. 

Everlasting  strength.     Isa.  xxvi.  4. 

Perfect  in  weakness.     2  Cor.  xii.  9. 

By  waiting  on  Him.     Isa.  xl.  31. 

According  to  Thy  word.     Ps.  cxix.  28. 

Take  hold  of.     Isa.  xxvii.  5. 

Saving  strength.     Ps.  xxvii.  8. 

The  strength  of  Israel,     i  Sam.  xv.  29. 

The  joy  of  the  Lord.     Nehem.  viii.  10. 


GOD'S  PEOPLE-FARMERS. 

Break  up  fallow.    Jer.  iv.  3. 

Plough,  break  clods.     Hos.  x.  11-12. 

In  the  morning  sow.     Eccl.  xi.  6. 

They  that  sow  in  tears.     Ps.  cxxvi.  5. 

Bearing  precious  seed.     Ps.  cxxvi.  6. 

The  seed  is  the  Word  of  God.     Luke 
vii.  II. 

The  field  is  the  world.     Matt.  xiii.  38. 

Sow  beside  all  waters.     Isa.  xxxii.  20. 

In  righteousness.     Hos.  x.  12. 

Sow    to    spirit — in    due   season   reap. 
Gal.  vi.  8,  9. 

Planteth — watereth.     i  Cor.  iii.  6  to  8. 

Whatsoever  a  man  soweth.     Gal.  vi.  7. 

Receive th  wages.    John  iv.  36. 

Fields  white  to  harvest.     John  iv.  35. 

Sower    and    reaper — rejoice.     John  iv. 
36. 

The  vineyard  is  house  of  Israel.     Isa. 
V.  7- 

Son,  go  work  to-day.     Matt.  xxi.  28. 

Labourers  together  with  God.     i  Cor. 
iii.  9. 


Harvest  plenteous-  labourers  few.  Mat. 
ix.  37. 

Pray  the  Lord  of  the  Harvest.  Matt, 
ix.  ^58.       ' 


GOD'S  PEOPLE-TRADERS. 
With  Master's  money.     Matt.  xxv.  14,. 

15- 

Consider  diligently.     Ps.  Ixxvii.  5,  6. 

Use  good  merchandise.     Pro.  iii.  14-15. 

If  diligent,  prosperous.  Pro.  xii.  14  ; 
xiii.  4. 

Stand  before  kings.     Pro.  xxii.  29. 

Do  it  with  thy  might.     Eccl.  ix.  10. 

Prepared  with  all  thy  might,  i  Chron. 
xxix.  2. 

He  giveth  wisdom  and  might.  Dan.  ii. 
20  to  23. 

Diligently  done  for  God.  Ezra  vii. 
23  to  28. 

Labours  to  be  accepted.  2  Cor.  v.  9  ; 
Rev.  ii.  2,  ^. 

Striving  according  to  his  working.  Col. 
i.  29. 

In  all  labour  there  is  profit.     Prov.  xiv. 

23- 

Profit  of  the  earth  for  all.     Eccl.  v.  9. 

Wisdom  is  profit,  defence.    Ecc.  vii.  11. 

On  credit — The  faith.     Heb.  xi.  i . 

Promptly — Redeeming  the  time.  Eph. 
V.  16. 

Now — To-day.  2  Cor.  vi.  2  ;  Heb.. 
iii.  13. 

Gains  now.     i  Tim.  vi.  6. 

Hast  gained  thy  brother.     Matt,  xviii. 

Gains  in  death.     Phil.  i.  21. 
Gains  hereafter.     Matt.  xxv.  2d';  Dan. 
xii.  3. 

Labour  not  in  vain,     i  Cor.  xv.  58. 


GOD'S  PEOPLE— PILGRIMS. 

Get  thee  out  of  thy  country.     Gen.  xii. 

IH. 
No  city  to  dwell  in,  Ps.  cvii.  4. 

Not  your  rest — polluted,  Mic.  ii.  10. 

Ask  way  to  Zion,  Jer.  1.  5. 

Shall  come  to  Zion,  Isaiah  xxxv.  10. 

Go  forth  out  of  the  land,  Jer.  1.  8. 

Dwelling  in  tents,  Heb.  xi.  9. 

The  Lord  leads.  Psalm  cvii.  6,  7. 

From  strength  to  strength.  Psalm: 
Ixxxiv.  7. 

Through  the  enemy's  world,  i  John  v- 
19. 

Snares  laid  for  them,  Ps.  cxl.  1-5. 


14^ 


NOTES  FOR  BIBLE  READINGS. 


Revived  amid  trouble,  Ps.  cxxxviii.  7. 

Pilgiim?  and  strangers,  Heb.  xi.  13. 

A  city  prepared  for  them,  Heb.  xi.  16. 

Affections  on  things  above,  Col.  iii.  2. 

Abstain  from  fleshly  lusts,   i  Pet.  ii.  11. 

Walk  worthy  of  God,  Col.  i.  10. 

Sojourning  here  in  fear,  i  Pet.  i.  17. 

Conversation  in  heaven,  Phil.  iii.  20. 

Find  streams  in  the  desert,  Isaiah 
XXXV.  6. 

A  highway — wayfarer — not  err,  Isaiah 
>xxxv.  8. 

With  supplications  will  I  lead,  Jer. 
:xxxi.  9. 

God  himself  be  with  them,  Josh.  i.  9. 

Hear  a  word — This  is  the  way,  Isaiah 

XXX.  21. 

Come  thou  with  us.  Num.  x.  29. 


THE  GREAT  THINGS  OF  GOD. 
"  O  the  depth.... of  the  riches  of  God." 
Gift  unspeakable.     2  Cor.  ix.  15. 
Grace  exceeding  abundant.      i    Tim. 
\.  14  ;  Eph.  ii.  7. 

Greatness  unsearchable.  Psa.  cxlv.  3. 
Joy  unspeakable,     i  Peter  i.  8. 
Judgments  unsearchable.  Rom.  xi.  33. 

Love  that  passeth  knowledge.     Eph. 
tii.  19. 

Peace  that  passeth  all  understanding. 

Phil.  iv.  7. 

Power  exceeding  great.     Eph.  i.  19. 

Promises  exceeding  great  and  precious. 
2  Peter  i.  4. 

Riches  unsearchable.     Eph.  iii.  8. 
Ways  past  finding  out.     Rom.  xi.  33, 

Weight  of  glory  exceeding  and  eternal. 
^  Cor.  iv.  17. 


DEPENDENCE  ON  GOD. 
Phillippians  iv.  13  ;  Proverbs  iii.  5,  6  ; 
Jeremiah  x.  23 ;  John  xv.  5  ;   2   Chron. 
-XX.  12  ;    2  Chron.  xvi.  9;  2  Chron.   xiv. 
II  ;  Ephesians  vi.  10. 


FATHER.    ■ 

Our  Father,  Matt.  vi.  9  ;  Luke  xi.  2  ; 
Isaiah  Ixiv.  8. 

A  Father,  Psalm  ciii.  13. 

My  Father,  John  xx.  17. 

Abba  Father,  Rom.  viii.  15  ;  Gal.  iv.  6. 

Everlasting  Father,  Isaiah  ix.  6. 


THE  DEEP  THINGS  OF  GOD. 

His  unspeakable  gilt,  2  Cor.  ix.  15. 

Joy  unspeakable,  I  Pet.  i.  8. 

The  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ, 
Eph.  iii.  8. 

How  unsearchable  are  his  judgments, 
Rom.  xi.  33. 

His  ways  past  finding  out,  Rom.  xi.  33. 
The    love    of    Christ    which    passeth 
knowledge,  Eph.  iii.  19. 

The  peace  of  God  which  passeth  all 
understanding.  Ph.  iv.  7. 

Thoughts  which  are  to  us-ward  more 
than  can  be  numbered,  Ps.  xl.  5. 

Unspeakable  words,  which  it  is  not 
possible  for  a  man  to  utter,  2  Cor.  xii.  4. 

Intercession  for  us  with  groanings  that 
cannot  be  uttered,  Rom.  viii.  26. 
•  Him    that    is    able    to    do    exceeding 
abundantly    above    all    that    we    ask   or 
think,  Eph.  iii.  20. 

The  Spirit  searcheth  all  things  ;  yea, 
the  deep  things  of  God,  i  Cor.  ii.  10. 


«'I  BELIEVE  IN  GOD." 

I. — I  BELIEVE. 

"I  believe"  is  the  one  source  of  all 
spiritual  knowledge,  Heb.  ii.  i. 

"I  believe  "  is  the  test  of  discipleship. 
It  was  the  one  requirement  which  Philip 
demanded  of  the  Ethiopian,  the  one 
condition  on  which  he  was  baptized. 
Acts  viii.  37. 

"  I  believe"  is  the  spirit  and  the  ground 
of  all  true  worship,  John  ix.  38 ;  com- 
pare John  XX.  28. 

*' I  believe"  is  the  source  of  strength, 
the  secret  of  obtaining  Divine  help, 
Mark  x.  23,  24. 

"I  believe"  brings  hope  and  comfort 
to  the  troubled,  John  xi.  27. 

"I  believe  "  is  the  power  of  preaching 
and  witnessing  for  Jesus,  2  Cor.  iv.  13. 

II. — IN  GOD. 

This  must  be  the  first  article  of  our 
belief,  Heb.  xi.  6. 

There  is  a  witness  in  our  hearts,  a 
something  within  every  man  that  testifies 
that  God  is. 

There  is  a  witness  in  nature.  The 
design,  harmony,  and  beauty  which  are 
so  manifest  in  all  created  things,  prove 
the  existence  of  God,  Acts  xiv.  17.  By 
these  visible   things,   the   invisible  things 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READ  I  NX  3. 


H3 


of   God,  even   His  eternal  power   and ; 
'Godhead,   are  clearly  seen,   Rora.  i.  19, 
20  ;  Ps.  xix,  I.  ' 

But,  above  all,  it  is  by  His  Word  that 
God  hath  fully  revealed  his  character 
-and  will  to  all  men.  "In  these  last 
•days"  God  hath  spoken  unto  us  by  His 
Son,  (Heb.  i.  i.)  who  both  declares  the 
Father  (John  i.  18),  and  shows  him 
unto  us.— John  xiv.  8,  9.  The  purpose 
of  this  revelation  is  that  we  may  be- 
<come  wise  unto  salvation,  (2  Tim.  iii. 
15)  ,  that  we  may  know  the  only  true 
God,  which  is  life  eternal.  John  xvii.  3. 

Our  word  "  God  '  means  "  good."  We 
have  the  same  word  in  the  first  syllable 
>of  "gospel,"  which  means  "  good  news." 

To  the  Jews  he  especially  revealed 
himself  by  his  name  Jehovah,  which  ex- 
presses the  self-existence  and  unchange- 
ableness  of    God.     "  He  that  was,  and 
that  IS,  and  that  shall  be."  the  great  "  I 
AM  "  (Ex. iii.  14  ;  vi.  3),     Jesusclaimed 
this  divine  name  (John  viii.   58).     Com- 
pare  Heb.  xiii.  8  ;    Rev.  i.  4,  8  ;    iv.  8  ; 
Ki,  17.     He  is  Jehovah-Jireh,  Who  pro- 
videth  (Gen,   xxii.   14)  ;  Jehovah-Rophi, 
vVho   healeth    (Ex.    xv.    26)  ;    Jehovah- 
.Nissi,  Who  defendeth    (Ex.    xvii.    15)  ; 
Jehovah-Shalom,     Who     giveth    peace 
Judges  vi.  24)  ;  Jehovah-Tsidkenu,  Who 
vs  our  righteousness  (Jer.  xxiii.  6)  ;  Jeho- 
'vah-Shammah.  Who   dwelleth    with  us 
(Ezek.    xlviii.    35)  ;    Immanuel,      '  God 
^ithus"  (Matt,  i,  23;  Rev.  xxi.  3;  xxii.  3, 

III. 1  BELIEVE  IN  GOD. 

That  is,  not,  I  believe  that  there  is  a 
'God,  This  the  devils  believe  (James  ii. 
19).  Only  fools  deny  it  (Ps.  xiv.  i). 
Nor  is  it  merely  I  believe  God.  There 
may  be  intellectual  belief  m  revelation, 
•which  leaves  the  heart  untouched  and 
the  conscience  unenlightened.  But  it  is 
"I  believe  in  God."  Abraham  "believ- 
'cd  m  the  Lord"  (Gen.  xv.  6).  And  the 
-very  expressive  Hebrew  word  literally 
amplies,  to  be  carried,  sustained  as  a 
•child  m  Its  mother's  arms  Such  is  true 
<    th     the   clmgmg  of  the   child   in   its 


helplessness  and  simplicity  to   the  Love 

of  the  Father.     We  must  thus  become 
as  little  children  (Matt,  xviii.  3). 


MY   FATHERS 
House,  (earthly.)     T^^lin  a.  6. 
Name.     John  v.  43.  " 
Will.     John  vi.  39. 
Hand.     John  x.  29. 
Hotise.  (heavenly.)     John  xiv. 
Word.     John  xiv.  24. 
Commandment.     John  xv.  10. 


2. 


THE  EYE  OF  GOD  EVERYWHERE. 

1.  For  the  ways  of  man  are  before  the 
eyes  of  the  Lord,  and  He  pondereth  all 
His  goings.     Prov.  v.  21 ;  xv.  3. 

2.  All  things  are  naked  and  open  unto 
the  eyes  of  Him  with  whom  we  have  to 
do.  Heb.  iv.  13  ;  John  iv,  24;  1  Sam.xvi.7.. 

3.  His  eyes  are  upon  the  ways  of  man 
and  He  seeth  all  His  goings.  Jobxxxiv. 
21  ;   I  John  iii.  20. 

4.  Thine  eyes  are  open  upon  all  the 
ways  of  .the  sons  of  men.  &c.  Jer.xxxii. 
19  ;  Psalm  cxxxix.  12. 

5.  Can  any  hide  himself  in  secret 
places,  &c.,  &c.  Jer-  xxiii.  24.  Proper 
effect  on  us.     Psalm  ii,  11. 

6.  Sinners   try   to   forget    that    God 

sees   them,    but    Ecc.    xii.    14 ;  Psalm 
cxxxix.   II. 

Illustrations.  Adam,  (Gen.  iii.  10.) 
Israel,  Jonah. 

7.  Thou  God  seest  me.  Gen.  xvi.  13  , 
A  source  of  joy.     2  Chron.  xvi.  g. 


GOD'S  PRESENCE. 

(ExOdus  xxxiii.  14.) 
The  secret  of- — 

1 .  Wisdom   in    daily    life.       Exodus 
xxxix.  2  ;  I  Sam.  xvi.  18;  i  Sam.  xviii.  14 

2.  Power  for  testimony,   i  Sam.iii.  19, 
Jer.  i.  8;  Acts  xvii.  9-10. 

3.  Strength  in  suffering.     Gen.  xxxi.\. 

21;    Psalm   xci.    15;    Isaiah    xliii.   2:  ; 
Tim.  iv.  17. 

Lo.   I  am   with   you   alway.       Malt 
xxviii.  20. 


THINGS  PREPARED   BY  GOD. 

1  Cor  ii.  9. 
in  grace  (For  those  who  dont  love 
Him)  salvation   for  lost.     Luke  ii.  31  ; 
Matt  xxii.  a  '■  Psalm  Ixviii.  10  :  Rev.  xxi. 


144 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


6  ;  Isaiah  Iv.  i  ;  Rom.  iii.  24 ;  Rom.  vi. 
23;  Johniv.  14. 

For  the  hungry  and  unsatisfied.  John 
vi. 

In  glory  (For  those  who  love  Flim.) 
Matt.  XXV.  33,  34  ;  xx.  23  ;  Heb.  xi.  16; 
John  xiv.  3. 

Heaven  a  prepared  place  for  a  prepared 
people.  Now.  Psalm  xxiii.  5 ;  Jonah  iv. 
6,  7,  8;  Eph.  ii.  10. 

Rough  path,  but  the  loving  hand 
places  each  stone.  Exod.  xxxiii.  20  ;  2 
Kings  V.  18 ;  Prov.  ix.  23;  2  Tim.  ii.  21; 
Prov.  kix.  29;  Psalm  ix.  7;  Acts  xiii.  46; 
Psalm  vii.  13  ;  Matt.  xxv.  41  ;  Amos  iv, 
12  ;  Prov.  xvi.  i  ;  Psalm  x.  i  ;  2  Chron. 
xxix.  36;  Luke  xiii.  47. 


GOD'S  HAND. 

Touched.     Jobxix.  21. 

Cleansing.     Matt.  viii.  3. 

Withering.     Gen.  xxxii.  25. 

Comforting.     Rev.  i.  17. 

Consecration.  Eyes.  Matt.  ix.  29.  Ear. 
Tongue.     Mark  vii.  33. 

No  other  may  "touch."  Zech.  ii.  8; 
I  John  V.  18. 


S  tm.  PERFEtF, 


Deut.  xxxii.  34;  Psalm,  xviii.  30;  Rom. 
xii.  2. 


GOD'S  SOVEREIGNTY. 
Luke  XV.  4 ;  Prov.  i.  24  ;  John  vi.  37  ; 
John  vi.  44  ;  Eph.  ii.  5  ;   James  i.   18; 
John  XV.  16  ;    Acts  xiii.  38  ;    Eph.  i.  4  ; 
Prov.  i.  23. 

MAN'S  RESPONSIBILITY. 
Luke  XV.  19;  Prov.  i.  24;  John  vi.  37; 
John  V.  46  ;  Jer.  xxix.  13  ;  James  iv.  8  ; 
Eph.  V.  14  ;  Isaiah  xlv.  22  ;  Prov.  i.  23  ; 
Rom.  i.  21-22;  2  Thess.  ii.  10;  Zech.  ix. 
12;  I  Thess.  i.  9. 


THE  LORD'S  PEOPLE  ARE 
Round  about  Him.     Psalm  Ixxvi.  ii. 
After  Him.    Num.  xxxii.  15;  Song  i.  4. 
Before  Him.     2  Chron.  xxix.  11. 
Behind  Him.     Luke  vii,  38. 
By  Him .     Deut,  xxxiii.  12. 


In  Him.     i  John  iii.  24. 
With  Him.     i  Thess.  v.  10. 
In  His  hand.     Deut.  xxxiii.  3. 


"OUR  FATHER." 

One  of  the  many  titles  of  God.  See 
Isaiah  Ixiv.  8. 

We  are  taught  by  Jesus  Himself  to- 
call  God  "Our  Father."  Matt.  v.  16,. 
45.  48. 

Twelve  references  to  God  as  "Our 
Father."  Matt.  vi.  See  also  Matt.  vii. 
11;  John  XX.  17. 

How  do  we  become  His  children  ? 

By  adoption.  Eph.  i.  4,  5 ;  Romans- 
viii.  15. 

By  His  word.  Johni.  12;  i  Pet.  i.  2,  3. 

By  the  Spirit  of  God.     Rom.  viii.  14. 

By  faith  in  Christ  Jesus.     Gal.  iii.  26. 

God's  love  is  shown  in  permitting  us  tO' 
be  called  the  sons  of  God.  i  John  iii.  i  \ 
2  Cor.  vi.  18. 

"  How  do  we  know  we  are  children? 
By  the  witness  of  the  Spirit.  Romans 
viii.  16;  Gal.  iv.  6. 

If  we  have  such  a  loving  Father,  we 
may  be  sure  He  will  take  care  o-''  us. 
Psalm  ciii.  13;  Isaiah  xlix.  15.    . 

He  will  give  us  all  things  that  He  see& 
good  for  us.  Psalm  xxxiv.  9,  10  ;  Rom. 
viii.  31,  32;  Rom.  viii.  28. 

We  may  pray  to  Him  and  ask  Him. 
for  all  we  need.  Matt.  vii.  7-1 1 ;  Eph. 
iii.  20. 

We  may  tell  Him  all  our  sorrows. 
Matt.  vi.  6,Z\  I  Peter  v.  7.  Read  John 
xvii.  21,  22,  23,  24. 


LOVE  IS  OF  GOD. 

"  Beloved,  let  us  love  one  another  r 
for  love  is  of  God;  and  every  one  that 
loveth  is  born  of  God,  and  knowetb 
God."     (I  John  iv.  7,  8.) 

Love  is  the  evidence  of  life  in  Christ. 
I  John  iii.  14. 

Love  is  the  first  "fruit  of  the  Spirit."" 
Gal.  v.  22. 

Love  is  the  activity  of  faith.   Gal.  v.  6. 

Love  is  the  "fulfilling  of  the  law." 
Rom.  xiii.  10. 

Love  is  the  "new  commandment." 
John  xiii.  34. 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


^45 


Love  IS  the  debt  we  owe  one  another. 
Rom.  xiii.  8. 

Love  IS  the  proof  of  true  "  disciple- 
ship."     John  xiii.  35. 

Love  is  the  test  of  pastoral  qualifica- 
tion.    John  XXI.  15. 

Love  IS  the  "bond  of  perfectness. " 
Col.  lii.  14. 

Love  is  more  precious  than  earthly 
riches.     Cant.  viii.  7. 

Love  is  strong  as  death.  Cant.  viu.  6. 

Love  is  not  to  be  in  word  only.     Love 

is  to  be  in  dged  and  in  truth,  i  John  iii.  18. 

Love  is  to  be  fervent,  out  of  a  pure 
heart.     1  Peter  i.  22. 

Love  is  to  abound  yet  more  and  more. 

1  Thess.  iii.  12. 

Love  constrains  to  self-denying  service. 

2  Cor,  V.  14. 

Love  becometh  "dear  children." 
Eph.  V.  I,  2. 

Love  will  cover  a  multitude  of  sins, 
Prov.  X.  12. 

Love    sufifereth    iong,    and   is   kind. 

Love  envieth  not.     Love  vaunteth  not 

itself.     Love  is  not    puffed    up.     Love 

doth  not  behave  itself  unseemly.     Love 

seeketh  not  her  own.    Love  is  not  easily 

offended.     Love  thinketh  no  evil.    Love 

re]oiceth  not  in  iniquity.  Love  rejoiceth 

in  the  truth.     Love  beareth  all  things. 

Love  believeth  all  things.     Love  hopeth 

all  things.     Love  endureth  all    things. 

Love  never  faileth.     i  Cor.  xiii. 

"  This  IS  love,  that  we  walk  after  His 

commandments." 


THE    LOVE    OF    THE    INFINITE 
GOD. 

The  love  of  the  Father,  i  John  iv.  8 ; 
John  ill.  16;  I  John  iv,  9,  10. 

The  love  of  the  Son.  Gal.  ii.  20; 
Eph.  V.  2  ;  John  xv.  ig. 

The  love  of  the  Spirit.  Rom.  xv.  30. 


WAITING. 

Should  I  wait  tor  the  Lord  any 
longer  ?  2  Kings  vi.  33, 

Rest  m  the  Lord,  and  wait  patiently 
lor  him. 

My  soul,  wait  thou  only  upon  God. 
Psalm  ixii.  5. 

I  will  wait  upon  the  Lord,  tnat  hideth 
his  face.     Isaiah  viii.  17. 

It  is  good  that  a  man  both  nope  and 
quietly  wait  for  the  Lord.     Lam.  iii.  26. 

They  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall 
r-enew  their  strength.     Isaiah  xl.  31. 

9 


They  shall  not  be  ashamed  that  wait 
for  Me.     Isaiah  xlix.  23. 

Our  soul  waiteth  for  the  Lord,  He  is 
our  help  and  our  shield.    Psa.  xxxiii.  20. 

I  waited  patiently  for  the  Lord ;  and 
He  heard  my  cry.     Psalm  xl.  i. 

Blessed  are  all  they  that  wait  for  Him 
Isaiah  XXX.  18. 

The    Lord  direct    your    hearts     into 

the  patient  waiting  for  Christ     2  Thess. 
lii.  5. 

Since  the  beginning  of  the  wcria  men 

have  not  heard,  nor   perceived   by  tne 

ear,  neither  hath   the  eye  seen.  O  God, 

beside  Thee,   what  He   hatti    prepared 

for  him  that  waiteth  for  Him.     Isaiah 

Ixiv,  4. 


THE  KING. 
Who  is  this  King  ?     Psalm  xxiv.  8. 
The  Lord  is  King  forever.  Psalm  x,  16. 
God  is  the  King.     Psalm  xlvii.  6. 
The  Lord  the  King.      Psalm  xlviii.  6. 
The  holy  one  of  Israel  is  our  King. 
Psalm  Ixxxix.  18. 

My  God,  my  King,     Psalm  Ixviii.  22. 
My  King  and  my  God.     Psalm  v,  2. 
The  Lord  shall  be  King      Zech.  ix   3. 
The  Lord  is  our  King.  Isaiah  xxxii.22. 
God  is  my  King,     Psalm  Ixxiv    i  2, 

Where    is    He    that  is  born    King  ? 
Matt  ii.  2. 

Jesus    the    King.      Matt,    xxvii.   37,* 
Acts  xvii.  7, 

King  of  saints.     Rev,  xv,  3. 

King  of  kings.     Rev.  xvii.  14  ;  i  Tim. 
vi.  15. 

HIS    FACE 

Make  thy   face  to   shine    upon    tby 
servant.     Psalm  xxxi.  16. 

Cause    thy  face  to  shine  and  we  shali 
be  saved.     Psalm  Ixxx.  7. 

I  will  behold  thy  face,     Psalm  xvii.  i  5. 

His  face  did  shine  as  the  sun.     Man 
xvii.  2. 

His  face  has  the  appearance  of  light- 
ning.    Daniel  x. 

His    countenance     is     as     Leoanon. 
Song  V.  15. 

He  IS  altogether  lovely.      Song  v.  i5. 

HIS  voict:.     \Song    ii.   S.) 
As  the  sound  cl  many  waters.      Rev. 

i.  15. 

Like  the  noise  of  many  waters.     £ze. 

xliii.  2. 


146 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


Like  the  voice  of  a  multitude.  Dan. 
X.  16. 

Full  of  majesty.     Psalm  xxbc.  4. 

HIS   FEET. 

Like  unto  fine  brass.     Rev.  i.  15. 

The    clouds dust    of    His    feet. 

Nahum  i.  3. 

Shall  stand  upon  the  Mount  of  Olives. 
Zech.,  xiv.  4. 

Held  Him  by  the  feet.     Matt,  xxviii.3. 

Began  to  wash... with  tears.  Luke 
vii  38. 

Sat  at  Jesus'  feet.     Luke  x.  39. 

Behold  My  hands  and  feet.  Luke 
xxiv.  39. 

They  pierced  My  hands  and  feet. 
Psalm  xxii.  16. 

Hath  put  all  things  under  His  feet, 
Eph.  i.  22, 

HIS    MOUTrf. 

Most  sweet.     Song  v.  16. 

The  kisses  of  ....     Song  i.  2. 

No  deceit  m  ....     Isaiah  liii.  9. 

We. . .  .have  heard  of. . .  .Luke  xxii.71. 

They  filled  a  sponge  with  vinegar  and 
put  it  to  His  mouth.    John  xix.  29, 

A  sharp  two  edged  sword,  went  out 
of  ....     Rev.  i.  16. 

Gracious  words  that  proceeded  out 
of  ... .     Luke  iv.  22. 

His    EYES. 

As  the  eyes  of  doves.     Song   v,  12. 
As  a  flame  of  fire.   Rev.  xix.  12  ;  1.  14. 
As  a  lamp  of  fire.     Daniel  x,  6. 

HIS    HEAD. 

As  the  most  fine  gold.     Song  v.  n. 

Had  not  where  to  lay  His  head. 
Matt.  viii.  20, 

They  smote  Him  on  the  head.  Matt, 
xxvii.  30. 

Platted   a  crown  of  thorns  and  put  it 

upon  His  head.     Matt,  xxvii.  29. 

On  His  head  were  many  crowns  Rev. 
xix  12. 

His    HANDS, 

As  gold  rings  set  with  the  beryl. 
Song  v,  14. 

None  can  stay  His  hand.     Dan.  v  35 

Hath  given  all  things  into  His  hands, 
johc  iii.  35. 
Savest  by  thy  right  hand  them  which 

put  their  trust  in  Thee.       Psalm  xvii.  7. 

Thy  nght  nand  holdeth  me.  Psalm 
sviii.   35, 

Thev  pierced  mv  hands    Psalm  xxii.  lo. 


He  lifted  up  His  hands  and  blessed 
them.     Luke  xxiv.  50. 

I  have  graven  thee  upon  the  palms  of 
My  hands.     Isaiah  xlix.  16. 

HIS   LIPS. 

Like  lilies.     Song  v.  13. 
Grace  is  poured  into  thy  lips.     Psalm 
xiv.  2. 

As  the  honeycomb.     Song  iv.  2. 

His  lips  are  full  of  indignation. 
Isaiah  xxx.  27. 

HIS    NAME. 

As  ointment  — ned  forth.     Song  i.  3. 
driven  by  Go<.       Phil.  ii.  9. 

His  name  shall  be  called,  &c.  Isaiah 
ix.  6. 

Is  called  the  word  of  God.  Rev.xix.13; 
John  i.  I. 

His  name  shall  be  in  their  foreheads. 
Rev.  xxii.  4. 

Thou  shalt  call  his  name  Jesus.  Matt. 
i.  21. 

HIMSELF. 

Not  for  himself.     Dan.  ix.  26. 
Gave  Himself  for  me.     Gal.  ii,  10. 
Gave  himself  for  us.     Gal.  i.  4. 
Offered  up  himself.     Num.  xvi.  9. 
He  himself  hath  suffered.     Heb.  ii.  18. 
Things  concerning  himself.  Luke  xxiv. 
27 

The  Lord  Himself  shall  descend  from 

heaven,     i  Thes.  iv.  16. 


THEY   SAW  THE   FACE  OF  THE 
KING. 
(Jer.  Iii.  25.) 
The    King.— Deu.  xvii.    .15  ;  Heb.    ii. 

14-17. 

King's  Robe. — Isa.  Ixi.  10;  i  Sam. 
jfviii.  4. 

King's  Sons. — 2  Sam.  ix.  2  ;  i  Sam. 
xviii,  23  ;  i  Jo.  iii.  i  ;  2  Sam.  xix.  28  ; 
Eph.  ii.  I  ;   Judg.   viii.  18  ;     i  John  iv. 

16,   17. 

King's  Throne. — Rev.  iii.  20  ;  Acts 
xii.  16  ;  Luke  xix.  5-7  ;  Col.  ii.  6  ;  i 
Pet.  iii.  15. 

King's  Face. —  John  vi.  40  ;  xii.  21  ; 
Luke  xxiv.  42  ;  Ex.  xxxiii.  20  j  2  Cor.  iv. 
6;  ui.  18. 

King's  Table. — Ps.  Xxiii  ;  I  Kg.  iv. 
27  ;  X.  5  ;  Song  ii.  4;  i.  12  ;  2  Sam.  ix  ; 
Esther  i.  7  ;  li.  18  ;  John  xii.  2  ;  Eph. 
ii.  1-7  ;  Phil.  iv..  19. 

King's  Friendship.— Prov.  xxii.  11  ; 
Jer.  xxxviii.  5  ;  Mat.  v.  8. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


My 


King's  Power. — Prov.  xx.  8  ;  Ecc.  viii. 
4  ;  2  Chron.  iii.  2,  8. 

King  also  a  Shephei'd. — Ps.  xxiii  ;  i 
Sam.  xii.  2  ;  Deut.  i.  30  ;  John  x.  4. 

Personal  love  to  the  King.— 2  Sam.  iv. 
36  ;  XV.  21  ;  2  Sam.  xx.  2. 

King's  work. — i  Sam.  xxi.  8  ;  Luke 
ii.  49  ;  Num.  xvi.  9.  From  the  Bosom — 
John  i.  18  ;  I  John  i.  23  ;  Rev.  xxii.  4  ; 
Ps.  Ixxxix.  15.  Absalom — 2  Sam. 
xjv.  28  ;  2  Cor.  iv.  4  ;  i  Chr.  iv.  23  ; 
I  Cor.  vii.  24  ;  i  Chron.  xii.  38  ;  Heb. 
xi.  27  ;  Acts  vii.  55  ;  vi.  15. 

King's  reward. — 2  Sam.  xix.  32-36  ; 
Mat.  xxv.  40. 

King's  presence. — Neh.  ii.  i  ;  Esth.  iv. 
a  ;  V.  I  ;  Ps.  xvi.  11  ;  Ezek.  xlvi.  10  ;  2 
Sam.  iii.  17,  18.— E.  H.  H. 


JESUS    LOVED    US,    AND    GAVE 
HIMSELF 

For  our  sins.     Gal.  i.  4. 

For  me.     Gal.  ii.  20. 

For  us.     Eph.  v,  2." 

For  the  church.     Eph.  v.  25, 

For  all.      I  Tim.  ii.  6. 


GRACE    ABOUNDING. 
(Psa.   ciii.   3-5  ) 
Forgiveth.      Luke  vii.  36-50 
Healeth.      Luke  viii.  43-48. 
Redeemeth.     Luke  viii.  49-56. 
Crowneth.     Luke  xv,  ii-24. 
Satisfieth.     Luke  xv.  19-20. 


JESUS  THE  PRINCE  OF  PEACE, 
OR  GOD  OF  PEACE. 

Isa.  ix.  6  ;  2  Cor.  xiii.  11  ;  Micah  v, 
5  ;  I  Thess.  v.  23  ;  Eph.  ii,  14  ;  Heb. 
xiii.  20 ;  Rom.  xv.  33  ;  Rom.  xvi.  20 ;  Heb. 
vii.  2. 


GIVES  HIS  PEOPLE  PEACE. 
John  xiv.  27  ;  John  xvi.  33  ;  Phil.  i.  2  ; 
Gal.  V.  22  ;  Eph.  ii.  15  ;  Col.  i.  2  ;  Col. 
iii.  15  ;  Acts  x.  36  ;  Gal.  i.  3  ;  Rom.  v. 

1  ;  Rom.  xiv.  17  ;  Eph.  vi.  15  ;  i  Thes. 
*.  I  ■  Rev.  i.  4  ;  Rom,  i.  7  ;  Eph.  i.  2  ; 
Rom.  viii.  6  ;  Rom.  x.  15  ;  Phil.    iv.  7  ; 

2  Tim.  i.  2  <  I  Cor.  i.  3  ;  2  Cor.  i.  2  ; 
Rom.  XV.  13  ;  i  Cor.  vii.  15  ;  i  Cor.  xiv. 
33  ;  2  John  iii. 


CHRIST  THE  PERFECT  MINIS- 
TER. 

2  Cor.  VI.  4-10. 
In  much  patience.     Heb.  xii.  3. 
In  afflictions.      Isa.  Ixiii.  g. 
In  necessities.      Lul<;e  ix.  58. 
In  distresses,      Isa.  liii.  34. 
In  stripes.      Mark  xv.  15. 
In  imprisonmenis.     Isa.  liii.  8. 
In  tumults.     Luke  iv.  28,  29. 
In  labours,     John  xvii.  4. 
In  watchings.     Luke  vi.  12. 
By  fastings.     Matt.  iv.  2. 
By  purity.     Heb.  vii.  26. 
By  knowledge.    Jno.  ii.  24,  25. 
By  longsuffering.      i  Pet.  ii.  23. 
By  kindness.     Titus  iii.  4. 
By  the  Holy  Ghost.     Acts  x,  38. 
By  love  unfeigned.     John  xv.   13. 
By  the  Word  of  Truth,     John  ix.  45. 
By  the  power  of  God.     Luke  iv.  14. 
By  armour.     Isa.  liv.  17. 
By  honour.     Luke  xix,  35,  38. 
By  dishonour.     Mark  xv,  19. 
By  evil  report  and  good.  John  x.  19,  21. 
As  a  deceiver.    John  vii.    12. 
As  yet  true.     John  xiv.  6. 
As  unknown — yet  well  known.     John 
i.  26-31. 

As  dying — behold  he  lives.    Rev.  i.  18. 
As  chastened — not  killed.      Isa.  liii.  v. 
As  sorrowful  yet  rejoicing.    Heb,  xii.  2. 
As  poor — making  rich.     2  Cor.  viii.  9. 
As  having  nothing.     Phil.  ii.  6,  7. 
As  possessing  all.     Matt,  xxviii.- 18. 

AT  HIS   FEET. 

For  healing.     Matt.  xv.  30. 

For  life.     Mark  v.  22. 

For  cleansing.     Mark  vii.  25. 

For  pardon.     Luke  vii.  38. 

For  protection  and  redemption. 
Ruth  iii.  8. 

For  rest.     Luke  viii.  35. 

For  teaching.  Deut.  xxxiii.  3  ;  Luke 
X.  39. 

For  comfort.     John  xi.  32. 

For  blessing,     i  Sam.  xxv.  27,  41,  42, 

In  worship.     Luke  xvii.  16;  Rev.i.17. 

IN    HIS    BOSOM. 

The  lambs.     Isaiah  xl.  11. 
John,     (the    gentle    childlike    spirit.) 
John  xiii.  25  ;  Song  ii.  6. 

IN   HIS    HAND. 

All  His  saints.     Deut.  xxxiii,  3. 
The  seven  stars.     Rev.  i.  16. 
The  sheep.     John  x.  28. 
Thee.     Isaiah  Ii.  16. 

ON    HIS    SHOULDERS. 

The  lost  sheep.  Luke  xv.  5  ;  Exodus 
xxviii.  12  ;  Isaiah  ix.  6. 


148 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


ON    HIS   HEART. 

.    Exodus  xxviii.  29,  30  ;  Deut.xxxiii.27. 

ON    HIS   FOREHEAD. 

Exodus    xxviii.   38;    Jer.   xxix.    11; 
Psalm  xl.  17. 

IN    HIS   ARMS. 

Deut.  xxxiii;  Mark  x.  15,  16. 

UNDER   HIS   WINGS. 

Psalm  xci.  4. 

NEAR   THE    KING'S   PERSON. 

They  saw  the  King's  face.     Jer.  lii.25. 


THE  ROCK. 

(Christ.     I  Cor.  x.  4.) 

Gave  forth — 

Water  (Ex.  xvii.  6.) — Mesas  (the  law) 
smote  the  Rock  (Christ),  and  there 
flowed  forth  the  water  of  life.  Psa. 
xxviii.  15  ;  Num.  xx.  8. 

The  Rock  once  smitten  in  answer  to 
the  law's  demands,  now  yields  abundantly 
the  water  of  life  to  them  that  ask  it.  Jno. 
iv.  10-14;  Matt,  vii,  7;  Rom.  v.  10; 
Rom.  X.  13  ;  Psa.  Ixxviii.  16.  . 

FiRi!,.  (Judges  vi.  21) — The  Rock  itself 
supplied  the  fire  that  consumed  the  sacri- 
fice. Gal.  i.  4  ;  Gal.  ii.  20  ;  Titus  ii.  14  ; 
Jno,  x.  17,  18. 

Oil  (Deu.  xxxii.  13  ;  Job  xxix.  6.)  It 
s  like  the  precious  ointment  upon  the 
head,  that  ran  down  upon  the  beard,  even 
Aaron's  beard,  etc,  Psa.  cxxxiii,  2  ;  see 
Ex.  XXX.  25-31  ;  Isa.  Ixi.  i;  Luke  iv.  18, 
19  ;  John  xvii.  19. 

Honey. — The  perfection  of  earth's 
sweetness.  Judges  xiv.  18  j  Ps.  xix.  10  ; 
Eze.  iii.  3. 

But  it  must  not  be  mixed  with  the 

offering  of  the  Lord.    Lev.  ii.  11,     Christ 
is  the  perfection  of  God's  sweetness. 

A  sweet  smelling  savor.  Eph.  v.  2  ; 
Lev.  i.  9;  Col.  i,  19. 

The  conclusion. — "Their  Rock  is  not 
our  Rock,  even  our  enemies  themselves 
being  judges."     Deu.  xxxii.  31. 


CHRIST— THE  ROCK. 

1.  Salvation.^— 2  Sam.  xxii.  47  ;  Jon. 
ii  9  ;  Acts  iv,  II,  12. 

2.  Foundation. — Matt.  vii.  24,  25  ;  i 
Cor.  iii.  11 ;  Is.  xxviii.  16;  Lph.  ii.  19, 
20  ;  I  Pet.  ii-  1-8. 


3.  Refuge.  — Ps.  xciv.  22  ;  Ps.  Ixii 
1-8  ;  Ps.  xxvii.  1-5. 

4.  Shelter. — Ps,  Ixi,  2,  3;  Job  xxiv. 
8  ;  Ps.  Ixxiii.  26  (margin);  Prov.  xviii.  10 

5.  Satisfying. — Ex.  xvii.  6 ;  1  Cor. 
X.  4  ;  Ps,  xxxvi.  7,  8  ;  Ps.  Ixxxi,  13-16  ; 
John  iv.  14. 

6.  Strength. — Ps,  xxxi.  2,  3  ;  Is. 
xxvi.  4,  (margin)  ;  Ps.  xXviii.  7,  8. 

7.  Rest. — Is.  xxxii.  2;  Matt.  ii.  28- 
30;  Heb.iv.  3.  S.  R.  B. 


THE    GOOD    SHEPHERD. 

A  meditation  and  example. 

Example. — John  x.  11,  15. 

Precept. — i  John  iii.  16. 

Illustration. — 2   Cor.    xii.    15  ;   Rom. 
xvi.  4. 

Reward. — John  x.  17  ;  Matt.  x.  39.. 

Example. — He    gathers    the    lambs. 
Isaiah  xl.ii. 

Precept. — Psalm  1.  5. 

Illustration. — Heb.  x.  25. 

Reward. — Matt,  xviii.  20. 

Example. — He     feedetn     the    flock. 
Isaiah  xi.  11. 

Precept. — i  Peter  v.  2; 

Illustration. — i  Cor.  iii.  2. 

Reward. — i  Peter  v.  4. 

Example. — He  carries  them   in  His 
bosom.     Isaiah  xl.  11. 

Precept. — Eph.  vi.  18. 

Illustration. — Phil.  i.  7. 

Reward. — Matt.  vi.  4,  6. 

Example. — He     layeth     it     on    His 
shoulders. 

Precept. — Gal.   vi.    2. 

Illustration. — Col.  vi.  3. 

Reward. — Col.  iv.  12. 

Example. — He  goeth  after  that  which 
was  lost. 

Precept. — Mark  xvi.  15. 

Illustration. — Mark  xvi.  20. 

Reward. — Isaiah  Iv.  11. 

Example. — He     gently      leads      the 
burdened  ones.     Isaiah  xl.  11. 

Precept. — i  Thess.  v.  15. 

Illustration.  — Genesis  xxxiii.  13,  14  ;  1 
Thess.  ii.  7. 

Reward.-  i  Thess.  ii.  19,  20. 

Leaving  us  an  example.     Lovestthou 
Me? 


JESUS  CHRIST. 

1.  Jesus  Christ  the  Son  of  God.  Acts 

viii.  37- 

2.  Jesus  Christ,  the  same  yesterday, 
to-day,  and  forever.     Heb.  xiii  8. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGb. 


149 


3.  Jesus  Christ  crucified,     i  Cor.  ii.  2. 

4.  Jesus  Christ  in  you.     2  Cor.  xiii.  5. 

5.  Jesus  Christ  the  righteous,     i  John 
ii.  I. 

6.  Jesus  Christ  the  chief  comer-stone. 
li!ph.  ii.  20. 

7.  Jesus  Christ,   Lord  to  the  glory  of 
God.     Phil.  ii.  11. 


JESUS  ONLY. 

The  light  of  heaven — is  the  face  of 
Jesus. 

The  joy  of  heaven — is  the  presence  of 
Jesus. 

The  melody  of  heaven — is  the  name  of 
Jesus. 

The  harmony  of  heaven— is  the  praise 
of  Jesus. 

The  theme  of  heaven — is  the  work  of 
Jesus. 

The  employment  of  heaven— is  the 
service  of  Jesus. 

The  fulness  of  heaven  —  is  Jesus 
Himself. 


JESUS  CHRIST. 

His  Divinity — Col.  ii.  9;  i  Tim.  iii.  16; 
John  i.  I,  14,  18;  Col.  i.  15-19;  i  Cor. 
XV.  47;  Heb.  i.  2,  3;  i  Cor.  ii.  8;  John 
i-  3;  X.  30,  36;  xiv.  8,  9,  10,  13,  14; 
Phil.  ii.  2,  6,  10,  II;  Isaiah  xlv.  21-23. 

His  Incarnation — Heb.  ii.  16;  Gal.  iv. 
4,  5;  Isaiah  vii.  14;  ix.  6;  Heb.  ix,  26; 
Matt.  i.  18. 

His  Life  as  Son  of  Abraham — Gospel 
of  Matthew. 

His  Life  as  perfect  Servant  and  Sacri- 
fice— Gospel  of  Mark. 

His  Life  as  Son  of  Man — Gospel  of 
Luke. 

His  Life  as  Son  of  God — Gospel  'of 
John. 

His  Baptism — Luke  iii.  21,  22. 

His  Temptation — Lake  iv.  i.  2;  Mark 
i.  12,  13;  Heb.  iv.  15. 

His  Death — Heb.  ix.  15. 

His  Resurrection — i  Peter  iii.  18. 

His  Ascension- Acts  i.  9 ;  Luke  xxiv.  51. 

His  Mediation — i    Tim.    ii.    5  ;    Heb. 

ix.  24  ;  vii.  25  ;  Rom.    viii.    34  ;  I  John 

ii.  I. 

His  Coming  Again — Acts  1.  11  ;  Mark 
xiv.  62  ;  I  Thess.  iv.  16,  17  ;  Mark  xiii. 
25,  26;  Matt.  xxiv.  30;  Mark  viii.  38; 
2  Thess.  i.  7,  8,  10  ;  Rev.  xxii.  20. 


THE  EPISTLE  TO  THE 
PHILIPPL\NS. 

You  have  the  gospel  mind,  and  Christ 
the  life.     Chap.  i. 

You  have  the  humble  mind,  and 
Christ  the  pattern.     Chap.  ii. 

You  have  the  earnest  mind,  and  Christ 
the  object.     Chap.  iii. 

You  have  the  peaceful  mind,  and 
Christ  the  strength.     Chap.  iv. 


THE  MAN  CHRIST  JESUS. 

Behold  the  Man.     John  xix.  5. 

The  Man  Christ  Jesus,     i  Tim.  ii.  5. 

The  Preferred  Man.     John  i.  30. 

The  Discerning  Man.     John  iv.  29. 

The  Gracious  Man.     John  vii.  46. 

The  Friendly  Man.     Luke  xv.  2. 

The  Faultless  Man.  Matt.  iii.  17; 
Luke  xxiii,  22. 

The  God  Man.  John  xix.  7 ;  Mark 
XV.  39. 

The  Rejected  Man.  Luke  xix.  14 ; 
John  xviii.  40. 

The  Risen  Man.  Acts  ii.  32  ;  i  Cor. 
XV.  21. 

The  Glorified  Man.  Acts  vii.  56; 
Rev.  i.  13. 

The  Heavenly  Man.  Heb.  x.  12;  i 
Cor.  XV.  47. 

The  Coming  Man.     Matt.  xvi.  27. 

Wilt  thou  go  with  this  Man  ?  Geu. 
xxiv.  58. 


CHRIST  FOR  US,  TO  US,  AND 
IN  US. 

There  are  three  ways  in  which  we  are 
benefited  by  Christ ;  three  bonds  be- 
tween us  and  Him. 

1.  He  '\sfor  us.     The  Holy  One  bears 

the  sins  of  the  unholy ;  the  Just  One 

dies  for  the  unjust.     Thus  the  cross  of 

Christ,  or  rather  Christ  upon  the  cross, 

is   our  peace.     His    body  was  broken 
for  us. 

2.  He  is  given  to  us.  He  who  gave 
Himself  for  us,  gives  Himself  to  us ; 
and  so  He  Himself  and  all  that  He  is 
and  has  becomes  ours.  It  is  this  gift  of 
Himself  to  us  that  we  are  reminded  of 
in  the  supper :  "  He  took  bread,  and 
gave  it,  saying,  Take,  eat." 

3.  He  dwells  in  us.  He  in  us,  and 
we  in  Him  ;  He  our  temple,  we  His  ! 
"Christ  in  you  the  hope  of  Glory." 
••We  will  come  unto  him,  and  make 
OUT  abode  with  him."     (John  xiv.  2^.) 


150 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE   READINGS. 


HOURLY  THOUGHTS  OF  JESUS. 

1.  Jesus.     Matt.  i.  21, 

2.  Our  Lord.     2  Thess.  ii.  16. 

3.  Christ  our  life.     Col.  iii.  4. 

4.  He  is  our  Peace.     Eph.  ii.  14. 

5.  Christ  hath  made  us  free.     Gal.  v,  i. 

6.  For  ye  serve  the  Lord  Christ. 
Col.  iii.  24. 

7.  Ncnv  ye  are  the  body  of  Christ 
I  Cor.  xii.  27. 

8.  He  vias  nianifested  to  take  away 
^ur  sins,     i  John  iii.  5. 

9.  And  your  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in 
God.     Col.  iii.  3. 

ID.  I  live,  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  Irveth 
•«  me.     Gal.  ii.  20. 

.11.  It  pleased  the  Father  that  in  Him 
should  all  fulness  dwell.     Col.  i.  19. 

12.  Christ,  in  whom  are  hid  all  the 
treasures  of  wisdom,  and  knowledge. 
Col.  ii.  3. 

How  precious  also  are  Thy  thoughts 
unto  me,  O  God  !  Ho7v  great  is  the  sum 
of  them.     Psalm  cxxxix.  17. 


'NEVER  MAN  SPAKE  LIKE 
THIS  MAN.' 

Jesus  said,  I  am  the  resurrection  and 

the  life.     John  xi.  25. 

Jesus  said,  Ye  cannot  serve  God  and 
mammon.     Matt.  vi.  24. 

Jesus  said,  Take  no  thought  for  the 
morrow.     Matt.  vi.  34. 

Jesus  said,  Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit. 
Matt.  V.  3. 

Jesus  said.  He  that  loveth  his  life  shall 
lose  it.     John  xii.  25. 

Jesus  said.  Be  of  good  cheer  :  it  is  I ; 
be  not  afraid.     Mark  vi.  50. 

Jesus  said,  Come  unto  Me,  I  will  give 
you  rest.     Matt.  xi.  28. 

Jesus  said,  I  am  among  you  as  He  that 
serveth.     Luke  xxii.  27. 

Jesus  said,  The  Father  loveth  the  Son. 
John  iii.  35. 

Jesus  said,  I  have  glorified  Thee  on  the 
earth.     John  xvii.  4. 

Jesus  said.  Let  your  loins  be  girded 
about.     Luke  xii.  35. 

Jesus  said,  The  Son  abideth  ever.  John 
vii.  35. 

Jesus  said.  Take  heed  what  ye  hear. 
Mark  iv.  24. 

Jesus  said.  Watch  ye  and  pray,  Mark 
xiv.  38. 

Jesus  said.  Let  not  your  heart  be 
troubled.     John  xiv.  i. 

Jesus  said,  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for 
you.    John  xiv.  2. 


Jesus  said,  They  are  not  of  the  world. 
John  xvii.  16. 

Jesus  said.  Why  are  ye  fearful  ?  O  ye 
of  Httle  faith.     Matt.  viii.  26. 

Jesus  said,  In  your  patience  possess 
ye  your  souls.     Luke  xxi.  19. 

Jesus  said,  I  receive  not  honor  from 
men.     John  v.  41. 

Jesus  said,  Without  Me  ye  can  do 
nothing.     John  xv,  5. 

Jesus  said.  My  peace  I  give  unto  you. 
John  xiv.  27. 

Jesus  said,  Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway. 
Matt,  xxviii.  20. 

Jesus  said,  He  that  gathereth  not  with 
Me,  scattereth.     Luke  xi.  23. 

Jesus  said,  Why  do  thoughts  arise  in 
your  hearts  ?     Luke  xxiv.  38. 

Jesus  said,  He  that  seeth  Me  seetb 
Him  that  sent  Me.     John  xii.  45. 

Jesus  said,  If  any  man  serve  Me,  let 
him  follow  Me.     John  xii.  26. 

Jesus  said.  It  is  written.     Luke  iv.  8. 

Jesus  said.  Go  thy  way ;  thy  faith  hath 
made  thee  whole.     Mark  x.  52. 

Jesus  said,  Sufficient  unto  the  day  is 
the  evil  thereof.     Matt.  vi.  34. 

Jesus  said,  Let  the  dead  bury  their 
dead.     Matt.  viii.  22. 


JESUS  HIMSELF. 

Himself  took  our  infirmities,  and  bare 
our  sicknesses.     Matt.  viii.  17. 

He  saved  others,  himself  he  cannot 
save.     Matt,  xxvii.  42. 

Jesus,  immediately  knowing  in  himself 
that  virtue  [power]  had  gone  out  of  him, 
Mark  v.  30. 

To  receive  for  himself  a  kingdom,  and 
to  return,  Luke  xix.  12. 

Saying  that  he  himself  is  Christ  a  king. 
Luke  xxiii.  2. 

He  expounded  unto  them  in  all  the 
scriptures,  the  things  concerning  himself. 
Luke  xxiv.  27. 

Jesus  did  not  commit  himself  imto  them. 
John  ii.  24. 

Making  himself  equal  with  God.  John 
V.  18. 

The  Son  can  do  nothing  of  himself,  but 
what  he  seeth  the  Father  do.   John  v.  19. 

So  hath  he  given  to  the  Son  to  have 
life  in  himself.     John  v.  26. 

Jesus  knew  in  himself  that  the  disciples 
murmured  at  it.     John  vi.  61. 

Jesus  therefore,  again  groaning  in  him- 
self, Cometh  to  the  grave.     John  xi.  38. 

He  took  a  towel,  and  girded  himself. 
John  xiii.  4. 

God  shall  also  glorify  him  in  himself. 
John  xiii.  32. 


NOTES    FOR    LIBLE    READINGS. 


5^ 


He  made  himself  the  Son  of  God 
John  xix.  7, 

To  whom  also  he  shewed  himself  alive 
after  his  passion.     Acts  i.  3. 

Even  Christ  pleased,  not  himself.  Rom. 
XV.  3. 

Who  gave  himself  for  our  sins.  Gal. 
i.  4. 

Who  loved  me,  and  gave  himself  for 
me-     Gal,  ii.  20. 

Christ  also  hath  loved  us,  and  hath 
given  himself  for  us.     Eph.  v  2. 

Christ  also  loved  the  Church,  and  gave 
himself  for  it.     Eph.  v.  25. 

Who  gave  himself  a  ransom  for  all. 
I  Tun.  ii.  6. 

Who  gave  himself  for  us,  that  he  might 
redeem  us  from  all  iniquity.     Tit.  ii.  14. 

To  make  in  himself  of  twain  one  new 
man.     Eph.  ii.  15. 

That  he  might  present  it  to  himself. 
Eph.  V.  27. 

He  made  himself  of  no  reputation. 
Phil.  ii.  7. 

He  humbled  "'•■mself.     Phil.  ii.  8. 

He  is  able  -to  subdue  all  things 

unto  himself,      fml.  iii.  21. 

He  can  not  deny  himself.   2  Tim.  ii.  13. 

And  purify  unto  himself  a  peculiar  peo- 
ple.   Tit.  ii.  14. 

When  he  had  by  himself  purged  our 
sins.     Heb.  i.  3. 

Christ  glorified  not  himself  to  be  made 
an  high  priest.     Heb,  v.  5. 

This  he  did  once,  when  he  offered  up 
himself,     Heb.  vii.  27, 

Who  through  the  eternal  Spirit  offered 
himself.     Heb.  ix.  14. 

Nor  yet  that  he  should  offer  himself 
often.     Heb.  ix.  25. 

To  put  away  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of 
himself,     Heb,  ix.  26, 

Endured  such  contradiction  of  sinners 
against  himself,     Heb.  xii.  3. 

Who  his  own  self  bare  our  sins  in  his 
own  body  on  the  tree,     i  Pet.  ii.  24. 


HIMSELF. 

1.  He  saved  others,  himself  he  can- 
not save,  (Matt,  xxvii,  42.)  Such  was 
the  taunt  of  the  chief  priests  and  scribes 
and  elders  when  the  Son  of  God  was 
dying  between  two  thieves,  and  without 
knowing  it,  they  uttered  a  profound 
truth.  Gal.  iii.  21  ;  John  xii.  24  ;  John 
It.  18  ;  Matt,  xxvi.  53. 

2.  After  these  things  Jesus  showed 
HIMSELF  again  to  the  disciples  at  the  sea 
of  Tiberias.     John  xxi.  i. 

3.  To  whom  also  he  showed  himself 
alive  after  his  passion,  by  many  infallible 


proofs,  being  seen  of  them  forty  days> 
and  speaking  of  the  things  pertaining  to 
the  kingdom.     Acts  i.  3. 

4.  Beginning  at  Moses,  and  all  the 
prophets,  he  expounded  unto  them  in  all 
the  scriptures  the  things  concerning 
HIMSELF,  and  on  the  evening  of  the 
same  day  of  His  resurrection.  He  an- 
nounced to  the  assembled  disciples,  "that 
all  things  must  be  fulfilled,  which  were 
written  in  the  law  of  Moses,  and  in  the 
prophets,  and  in  the  psalms,  concerning 
ME."     Luke  xxiv.  27,  44. 

5.  Who  gave  himself  for  our  sins, 
that  He  might  deliver  us  from  this  pre- 
sent evil  world.     Gal.  i.  4. 

6.  Who  loved  me,  and  gave  himself 
for  me.     Gal,  ii.  20. 

7.  When  he  had  by  himself  purged 
our  sins,  sat  down  on  the  right  hand  o> 
the  Majesty  on  high.    ^Heb.  1.  3. 

8.  Made  himself  of  no  reputation, 
[or  rather,  emptied  Himself]  and  hum- 
bled Himself.     Phil.  ii.  7,  8. 

9.  Who  gave  himself  for  us,  that  he 
might  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity,  and 
purify  unto  Himself  a  peculiar  people, 
zealous  of  good  works.  ^  Tit.  ii.  14. 

10.  The  Lord  himself  shall  descend 
from  heaven  with  a  shout,  i  Thes.  iv. 
16.  J.  H.  Brookes. 


77- 


CHRIST  OUR  SALVATION. 
The  God  of  salvation.     Chron.  xvi.  35. 
The  Captain  of  salvation.     Heb.  ii.  10. 
The  Author  of  salvation.     Heb.  v.  9. 
The  Rock  of  salvation.  Deut.  xxxii.  15. 
The  Tower  of  salvation.  2  Sam.  xxii.51. 
The  Horn  of  salvation.     Luke  i.  69. 
The  Way  of  salvation.     Acts  xvi.  17. 
The  Heirs  of  salvation.     Heb.  i.  14, 
The  Voice  of  salvation.     Ps.  cxviii.  15. 
The  Word  of  salvation.     Acts  xiii.  26. 
The  Gospel  of  salvation.     Eph.  i.  13. 
The  Hope  of  salvation,     i  Thes.  v.  8 
The  Knowledge  of  salvation,     Luke  i. 

The  Day  of  salvation.     Isa.  xHx.  8. 
The  Wells  of  salvation.    Isa.  xii.  3. 
The  Cup  of  salvation.     Ps,  cxvi.   13. 
The  Token  of  salvation.     Phil.  i.  28. 
The  Garments  of  salvation.  Isa.  Ixi.io. 
The  Helmet  of  salvation.     Isa.  Ix.    17. 
The  Chariots  of  salvation.     Hab.  iii.8. 


152 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


THE    BENEFITS    OF    CHRIST'S 
DEATH. 

Heb.  ii.  14  ;  Heb.  ix.  14  ;  Heb,  ix.  26; 

•  Gal.  iii.   13  ;    Rev.   v.   9  ;  Heb.  ii.    17  ; 

Acts  xiv.  39 ;  I  Cor.  vi.  20  ;  Rom.  v.  19  ; 

Isa.  liii.  6  ;  Gal.  v.  4-22  ;  Rom.  v.  ii  ; 

I  Pet.  iii.  18  ;  Luke  xxii.    20  ;  Titus  ix, 

29  ;  2  Cor.  V.  18-21  ;  2  Tim.  i.  .10. 

■  CHRIST  FOR  HIS  OWN. 
He  gave  Himself  for  trieir  sins.     Gal. 

i  4- 

He  quickens  them  by  His  voice.  Jno. 
V.  25. 

He  seals  them  by  His  Spirit.  Eph,i.i3. 

He  feeds  them  with  His  flesh  and 
blood.     John  vi.  56,  57. 

He  cleanses  them  by  His  word.  John 
xiii.  5      Eph.   V.  26. 

He  maintains  them  by  His  intercession. 
Rom.  viii,  34  ;  Heb.  vii.  25  ;  i  Jno.  ii.  i. 

He  takes  them  individually  to  Him- 
self.    Acts  vii.  59  ;  Phil.  i.  23. 

He  watches  over  their  ashes.  John  vi. 
39,  40. 

He  will  raise  them  by  His  power, 
[ohn  vi.  39,  40  ;  i  Cor.  xv.  52  j  i  Thes, 
iv.   16. 

He  will  come  to  meet  them  in  the  air. 
I  Thes.  iv.  17. 

He  will  conform  them  to  His  image. 
Phil.  iii.  21  ;  I  John  iii.  2. 

He  will  associate  them  with  Himself 
in  His  everlasting  kingdom.  John  xiv, 
3  ;  xviii.  24. 

Thus  the  activities  of  Christ  on  behalf 
of  His  people,  take  in,  in  their  range,  the 
past,  the  present,  and  the  future.  They 
stretch,  like  a  golden  line,  from  everlast- 
ing to  everlasting.  Well  may  it  be  said, 
*'  Happy  is  the  people  that  is  in  such  a 
case  ;  yea,  happy  is  the  people  whose 
God  is  the  I.,ord." 


CHRIST  OUR  LIFE. 

I  am  come  that  they  might  have  life, 
and  that  they  might  have  it  more  abun- 
dantly.    John  X.  10, 

I  am  the  way,  the  truth  and  the  life. 
John  X.  6. 

I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life  :  he 


that  believeth  in  me,  though  he  were 
dead,  yet  shall  he  live.     John  xi.  25. 

I  give  unto  them  eternal  life;  and  they 
shall  never  perish,  neither  shall  any  pluck 
them  out  of  my  hand.     John  x.  28. 

Because  I  live,  ye  shall  live  also.  John 
xiv.  19. 

I  am  crucified  with  Christ:  nevertheless 
I  live;  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me. 
Gal.  ii.  20. 

Ye  are  dead,  and  your  life  is  hid  with 
Christ  in  God.     Col.  iii.  3. 

When  Christ,  who  is  our  life  shall  ap- 
pear, then  shall  ye  also  appear  with  him 
in  glory.     Col.  iii.  4. 


JESUS  THE  LIGHT. 

Ln  Him  was  life,  and  the  life  was  the 
light  of  men.     John  i.  4. 

That  was  the  true  light  which  lighteth 
every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world. 
John  1.9, 

I  am  the  light  of  the  world.  Johnviii.12. 

Yet  a  little  while  is  the  light  with  you, 
&c.     John  xii.  35. 

I  am  come  a  light  into  the  world  that 
whosoever  believeth  on  me  should  not 
abide  in  darkness.    John  xii.  46. 

A  light  to  lighten  the  Gentiles  and  the 
glory  of  my  people  Israel.     Luke  ii.  32. 

There  shall  come  a  star  out  of  Jacob, 
&c.     Num.  xxiv.  17. 

I  am  the  bright  and  morning  star. 
Rev.  xxii.  16. 

The  day-star  shall  arise  in  your  hearts. 
2  Peter  i.  19. 

The  day-spring  from  on  high  hath 
visited  us.     Luke  i.  78. 

But  unto  you.  which  fear  My  name 
shall  the  sun  of  righteousness  arise  with 
healing  in  his  wings.     Mai.  iv.  2. 

The  people  that  walked  in  darkness 
have  seen  a  great  light,  &c.     Isaiah  ix.  2. 


THEIR  FACE  SHONE. 
Moses.     Exodus  xxxiv.  29,  35. 
Stephen.     Acts  vi.  15. 
Jesus.     ]Matt.   xvii.    2  ;    Luke  ix.   28 
Rev.  i.  16. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


153 


HIS  PEOPLE.— LIGHTS.— (Lesser  ?) 

Ye  are  the  light  of  the  world.  Matt. 
•V.  14,  16. 

Take  heed,  as  unto  a  light  that  shineth 
in  a  dark  place.     2  Peter  i.  19. 

Ye  are  all  the  children  of  light  and 
the  children  of  the  day.     i  Thess.  v.  5. 

They  shall  be  mine  saith  the  Lord  of 
Hosts  in  that  day  when  I  make  .up  my 
jewels.     Mai.  iii.  17. 

They  that  be  wise  shall  shine  as  the 
brightness  of  the  firmament,  and  they 
that  turn  many  to  righteousness  as  the 
stars  for  ever  and  ever.     Dan.  xii,  3. 

.  .  .  Among  whom  ye  shine  as 
lights  in  the  world.     Phil.  ii.  15. 

The  path  of  the  just  is  as  the  shining 
.light  that  shineth  more  and  more  unto 
the  perfect  day.     Prov.  iv.  18. 

I  will  give  thee  .  .  for  a  light  of  the 
Gentiles.     Isa.  xlii.  6. 

The  children  of  light,  (acknowledged 
•as  such. ) Luke  xvi.  8. 

Walk  as  children  of  light.     Eph.  v  8. 

THE  "ME'S"  OF  JESUS. 

Without  Me  ye  can  do  nothing. 
John  XV.  5. 

Look  unto  Me. — Isaiah  xlv.  22 ;  Num. 
3cxi.  8;  connect  with  John  iii.  14-16; 
2,ech.  xii.  10  ;  Heb.  xii.  2. 

Come  unto  Me. — John  i.  35-39.  What 
a  blessed  visit !  Jesus  invites  every  one 
to  come  and  see  Him. 

Him  that  cometh  to  Me  I  will  in  no 
rjvise  cast  out.  John  vi.  37  ;  Matt,  xi.28; 
Isaiah  i.  18:  Iv.  1-3-;  John  vii.  37  ;  Rev. 
xxii.  17. 

Even  backsliders  are  invited.  Isaiah 
xxxi.  6;  xliv.  22  ;  Jer.  iii.  12  ;  Hosea  vi. 
I ;  Rev.  ii.  5. 

Is  that  true  of  Me  ?     John  v.  40. 

Lovest  thou  Me  ?  John  xxi.  17.  Can 
we  answer  as  Peter  did  ? 

Marks  of  love  to  Jesus. — ^John  xiv.  15; 
ocv.  12 ;  I  John  iii.  14;  (Psalm  cxix,  63  ; 
2  Cor.  vi.  14-17) ;  I  John  iii.  8-10  ;  iii.  3; 
■V.  4  ;  iv.  13  ;  Rom.  viii.  14-16  ;  i  John 
•V.  10  (first  clause). 

Abide  in   Me. — ^John   xv.    1-7,    10;  i 


John  iii.  24;  Col.   ii.  6,  7  ;  Eph.  iv.  15, 
16;  Col.  ii.  20. 

Learn  of  Me. — Matt,  xi.29;  John  xiii. 
13-15.  Go  and  do  thou  likewise. — Luke 
X.  37;  xiv.  21-23;  Phil.  ii.  5-8  ;  1  Peter 
ii.  21-24. 

Song. — I  gave  My  life  for  thee. 

Folljyw  Me. — Matt.  iv.  19  ;  viii.  21,22, 
ix.  9  ;  xix,  21.  Follow  thou  Me. — ^John 
xxi.  22;  Mark  xvi.  15,  16;  Matt.  xxi. 28. 
Peter  followed  afar  off. — Matt.  xxvi.  58, 
69-75  ''  Luke  ix.  61,  62,  63  ;  John  viii.  12. 

Watch  with  Me. — Matt.  xxvi.  40,  41  , 
Mark  xiii.  33-37  (note  verse  37)  ;  Eph. 
vi.  18  ;  I  Peter  iv.  7 ;  v.  8.  Blessed  is  he 
that  watcheth. — Rev.  xvi.  15. 

Be  with  Me. — John   xiv.  1-3  ;  xii.  26 
xvii.  24;   I   Th.    V.  9-1 1.     Ever  with  tjie 
Lord. — I  Th.  iv.  13-17. 

Believeth  on  Me. — John  vi.  35,  40,  4-: 

xi.  25,  26;  xii.  46;  xiv.  12;  iii.    18,   30, 
i.  12. 

How  are  we  to  believe  ?     Rom.  x.  10. 

Warning  to  unbelievers.    John  viii.  24. 

3y  faith  these  precious  Me's  of  Jesus 
may  be  ours  (Heb.  vi.  12),  then  we  can 
say  with  Paul  :  I  can  do  all  things 
through  Christ  which  strengtheneth  me, 
Phil.  iv.  13. 

In  Me  is  thy  help,  saith  the  Lord. 
Hosea  xiii.  9. 

Come  to  Me. — Matt,    xi,   28.     Learn 

of  Me. — Matt.  xi.  29.     Abide  in  Me. — 

John  XV.  4.     Lovest  thou   Me  ? — John 

xxi.  17.     Follow  thou  Me. — ^John  xxi. 22. 

Watch   with   Me. — Matt.  xxvi.  40.     Be 

with  Me. — John  xvii. 24. 


"I." 

1 .  I  am  thy  Saviour  and  thy  Redeemer, 
Isaiah  Ix.  16. 

2.  I  am  the  Way,  the  Truth,  and  the 
Life.     John  xiv.  6. 

3.  I  am  the   Good  Shepherd.     John 
X.    14. 

4.  I  am  the  Door.    John  x.  9. 

5.  I  am  the  True  Vine.      John  xv.  i 

6.  I    am    the   Light  of   the    World. 
John  viii.  12. 

7.  I  am  the  Bread  of  Life.  John  vi. 33 


154 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


"COME  UNTO  ME'S,"  OF  JESUS. 
Jesus  saith  come  unto  Me — 
For  pardon.     Eph.  i.  5-7. 
For  comfort.     Isaiah  li.  2-3. 
For  health.     Matt,  viii.  16-17. 
For  strength.     Phil.  iv.  13. 
For  holiness.     John  xv.  4-5. 
For  peace.     John  xiv.  27. 
For  joy..    John  xv.  10,  11. 
For  rest.     Matt.  xi.  28. 
For  Inppiness.     Prov.  xiii.  17,  18. 
For  eternal  life.     John  vi.  47. 
In  Jesus,   dwelleth  the  fulness  of  God. 
He  is  the  chiefest  among  ten  thousand. 
And  ye  are  complete  in  Him. 
Make  Him,  then,  your  all  in  all. 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 

Jesus  said,  if  any  man  serve  Me  let  him 
follow  Me.     John  xii.  26. 

Follow  Me.     Mark  viii.  34. 

Follow  that  which  is  good,  i  Thess. 
V.  15. 

Follow  righteousness,     i  Tim.  vi.  ii. 

Follow  peace  with  all  men.  Hebrews 
xii.   14. 

Follow  after  charity,     i  Cor.  xiv.  i. 

Follow  His  steps,     i  Peter  ii.  21. 

Promises  to  those  who  follow  Jesus  : — 
He  that  followeth  Me  shall  not  walk  in 
darkness,  but  shall  have  the  light  of  life. 
John  viii.  12. 

Where  I  am,  there  shall  My  servant  be. 
John  xii.  26. 


JUST  LIKE  JESUS,  TO 
Love. — Greater  love  hath  no  man  than 
this,  that  a  man  lay  down  his  life.    John 

XV. 

Pity. — In  His  love  and  in  His  pity  He 
redeemed  them.     Isaiah  Ixiii.  9. 

Sympathize. — In  all  their  affliction  He 
was  afflicted.     Isaiah  Ixiii.  9. 

Forgive. — I    say    unto    you,    all    sins 

shall  be  forgiven.     Mark  ix.  27. 

Help. — ^Jesus  took  him  by  the  hand, 
and  lifted  him  up.     Mark  ix.  27. 

Comfort. — I  will  not  leave  you  com- 
fortless :  I  will  come  unto  you.  John 
xiv.  18. 

Guide. — He  will  guide  you  into  all 
truth.     John  xvi.  13. 

Deliver.  -^He  hath  sent  me  to  preach 


deliverance  to  the  captives.     Luke  iv.  18. 

Reward. — Where  I  am  there  ye  may 
be  also.     John  xiv.  3. 

Who  was  made  in  the  likeness  of  men, 
and  became  obedient  unto  death,  for  our 
salvation. 


LOOK  TO  JESUS,  WHEN 

Teippted.  —He  Himself  suffered,  being 
tempted.     Heb.  ii.  18. 

Afflicted. — In  all  their  affliction  He  was 
afflicted.     Isaiah  Ixiii.  9. 

Troubled. — Come  unto  Me,  and  I  will 
give  you  rest.     Matt.,  xi.  28. 

Sick. — Himself  took  our  infirmities  and 
bare  our  sicknesses.     Matt.  viii.  17. 

In  Health. — The  health  of  my  counte- 
nance, and  my  God.     Psalm  xlii.  11. 

Rich, — Riches  and  honour  come  of 
Thee,     i  Chron.  xxix.  12. 

Poor. — Who  for  our  sakes  became  poor. 
2  Cor.  viii.  9, 

Oppressed. — He  was  oppressed  and  He 
was  afflicted,     Isaiah  liii.  7. 

Forsaken.  —  I  will  never  leave  thee^ 
nor  forsake  thee.     Heb.  xiii.  5. 

Dying. — Lord  Jesus,  receive  my  spirit* 
Acts  vii.  59. 

Always,  under  all  circumstances. 


LOOK  TO  JESUS. 

As  the  open  fountain  —  Look,  wash> 
and  be  clean.     Zech.  xiii.  i. 

As  the  Antitype  of  the  brazen  serpent 
— Look  and  live.     John  iii.  14. 

As  the  light  of  the  world — Look  and 
be  enlightened.    John  viii.  12. 

As  the  great  Physician — Look  and  be 
healed.     John  v.  6. 

As  the  bread  of  life — Look  and  par- 
take.    John  vi.  35. 

As  the  way  to  heaven — ^Look  and  walk 
in  Him.    John  xiv.  6. 

As  the  sure  foundation — Look  andi 
build.     Isa.  xxviii.  16. 

As  the  ark — Look  and  enter.  Gen. 
vii.  I. 

As  the  friend  of  sinners— Look  and 
trust.     Matt.  xii.  19. 

As  the  only  Saviour — Look  for  salva- 
tion.    Acts  iv,  12. 

As  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faitb 
— Look  for  evermore.     Pleb.  xii.  2, 

Arranged  by  J,  H.  E. 


NOTES  FOR  BIBLE  READINGS. 


155 


BIBLE  INVITATIONS. 

[Arrajtged  Alphabetically.) 

Ask  of  Me.     Ps.  ii.  8. 
Abide  in  Isle.     John  xv.  4. 
Believe  Me.     John  xiv.  1 1 . 
Call  upon  Me.     Jer.  xxxiii.  3. 
Cleave  unto  Me.     Jer.  xiii.  ii. 
Cry  unto  Me.     Jer.  xi.  11. 
Come  unto  Me.     Matt.  xi.  28. 
Find  Me.     Jer.  xxix.  13. 
Follow  Me.     Matt.  iv.  19. 
Glorify  Me.     Ps.  1.  15. 
Hearken  to  iSle.     Mark  vii.  14. 
Know  Me.     Jer.  xxiv.  7. 
Learn  of  Me.     Matt.  xi.  29. 
Listen  unto  Me.     Isa.  xlix.  i. 
Look  unto  Me.     Isa.  xlv.  22. 
Love  Me.     John  xiv.  15. 
Pray  unto  Me.     Jer.  xxix.  12. 
Receive  Me.     Luke  ix.  48. 
Rejoice  with  Me.     Luke  xv.  6. 
Return  unto  Me.     Jer.  xxiv.  7. 
Seek  Me.    Jer.  xxix.  13. 
Search  for  Me.    Jer.  xxix.  13. 
Trust  in  Me.    Jer.  xlix.  11. 


THE    LORD'S    HANDS    FOR    HIS 
PEOPLE. 

Pierced  for  their  sin.     Psa.  xxii.  16. 

Graven  with  their  names.  Isaiah  xlix. 
16. 

Healing  their  infirmities. .  Mark  i.  41. 

Filled  for  their  needs.     Ex.  xxviii.  14. 

Opened  for  their  supply.  Psalm  cxlv. 
16. 

Uplifted  for  their  blessing.  Luke  xxiv. 

5- 

Strong  for  their  defence.  Psalm 
cxxxviii.  7. 

Sustaining  their  weariness.     Song  ii.  6. 

Cunning  for  their  fashioning.  Song 
vii.  I  ;  Prov.  ix.  8. 

Re-assuring  for  their  fears.     Rev.  i.  19. 

Hiding  for  their  preparation.  Isaiah 
xlix.  2. 

Power- giving  for  their  service,  i  Kings 
xviii.  15.     . 


IV 


"I  WILLS"  OF  CHRIST. 

I  will  make  you  fishers  of  men.     Matt. 

.  19. 

I  will :  be  thou  clean.  Matt.  viii.  3  ; 
Mark  i.  41  ;  Luke  v.  13-21. 

I  will  come  and  heal  him.  Matt.  viii.  7. 

Him  will  I  confess.  Luke  xii.  8 ; 
Matt.  X.  32. 

I  will  give  you  rest.     Matt.  xi.  28. 

Not  as  I  will  but  as  tftou  wilt.  Matt. 
xxxvi.  32-39. 


16. 
John 


Not  what  I  will,  &c.     Mark  xiv.  36. 
I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out.     I  will  give 
my  flesh.     I  will  raise  him  up.     John  vi. 

37.  5i>  53,  54. 

I  will  come  again.     John  xiv.  3. 

I  will  pray  the  Father.     John  xiv. 

I  will  not  leave  you  comfortless, 
xiv.  18. 

Whom  I  will  send.     John  xv.  21-26. 

I  will   that   they   be   with   me.     John 
xvii.  24. 

If  I  will  that  he  tarry.     John  xxi.  22. 

I  will    make   thee    ruler    over    many 
things.     Matt.  xxv.  21-23. 

I  will  give  you  a  mouth.    Luke  xxi.  15. 

Whatsoever  ye  ask  that  will  I  do.  Joha 
xiv.  13. 

I  if  I  be  lifted  up  will  draw  all  men. 
John  xii.  32. 

I  will  see.  .  I  will  send.     I  will  pray^ 
John  xvi.  7,  22,  26. 


THE  "I  AM'S"  OF  CHRIST. 

I  am  a  sinfiil  man,  O  Lord.   Luke  v.  8, 

I  a?n  thai  I  ain.     Ex.  iii.  14. 

I  am  counted  with  them  that  go  down 
into  the  pit.     Psalm  Ixxxviii.  4. 

I  am  the  bread  of  life.     John  vi.  35. 

I  am  undone.     Isaiah  vi.  5. 

I  am  the  light  of  the  world.  John  viii.  12. 

I  am  a  stranger  with  thee,  and  a 
sojourner.     Psalm  xxxix.  12. 

I  am  the  door.    John  x.  9. 

I  am  weary.     Psalm  xi.  6. 

I  am  the  Good  Shepherd.     John  x.  11. 

I  am  carnal,  sold  under  sin.  Rom.  vii. 
14. 

I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life.  John 
xi.  25. 

I  am  as  a  man  that  hath  no  strength. 
Psalm  Ixxxviii.  4. 

lam  the  way,  the  trtith,  and  the  life ^ 
John  xiv.  6. 

I  am  weak.     Psalm  vi.  2. 

I  am  the  true  vine.     John  xv.  i. 

I  am  but  a  little  child,     i  Kings  iii.  7. 

I  am  meek  and  lowly  of  heart.  Matt, 
xi.  29. 

I  am  afraid.     Job  xxiii.  15. 

I  am  Alpha  and  Omega.     Rev.  i.  8. 

I  am  the  Lord's.     Isaiah  xliv.  5. 

/  am  He  that  liveth,  and  was  dead. 
Rev.  i.  18. 

I  am  Thy  servant.     Psalm  cxvi.  16. 

/  am  He  which  searcheth  the  reins  and 
the  heart.     Rev.  ii.  23. 

I  am  my  beloved's.     Cant.  vii.  10. 

/  avi  the  root  and  offspring  of  David, 
and  the  bright  and  morning  star.     Rev 
xxii.  16. 


*5C> 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


JEHOVAPI  JIREH.— PROVIDER. 
(Gen.  xxii.  14.) 

I  am  by  nature. 

"  Wretched  and  miserable  and  poor 
%iid  blind  and  naked."     Rev.  in.  17. 

But  Jesus  Christ  is : — 

My  Saviour,  2  Pet.  iii.  18. 

My  Sacrifice,  Heb,  ix.  14. 

My  Peace,  Eph.  ii.  14. 

My  Passover,  i  Cor.  v.  7. 

My  Resurrection,  John  i.  25. 

My  Life,  i  John  v.  11,  i2.' 

My  Light,  John  i.  9. 

My  Truth,  John  xiv.  6. 

My  Wisdom,  i  Cor.  i.  30. 

My  Righteousness,  Phil,  iii,  9. 

My  Sanctification,  i  Cor.  i.  30, 

My  Meat,  John  vi.  35. 

My  Drink,  John  vii.  37. 

My  Hope,  i  Tim.  i.  i. 

My  Redemption,  i  Cor.  i,  30. 

My  All,  Col.  iii.  2. 


JESUS  "SAT  DOWN"  AS 

Sin  purger,  Heb.  i.  3. 
High  Priest,  Heb.  viii.  i. 
Priest  and  sacrifice,  Heb.  x.  12. 
Author  and  finisher  of  faith,  Heb.  xii.  2. 


"NO  OTHER  NAME." 

Hymn—*'  All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus' 
name." 

Thou  shalt  call  his  name  Jesus,  Matt. 
'.  21  ;  Isa.  ix.  6  ;  Isa.  vii.  14. 

Must  be  saved  by  Him  or  perish, 
Acts  iv.  12. 

May  be  saved,  Acts  x.  43. 

Jesus  after  his  resurrection,  Luke  xxiv. 
27,  44. 

Mediator,   i  Tim.  ii.  5,6. 

God  with  us,  Matt.  i.  23. 

A  prince  and  a  Saviour,  Acts  v.  31. 

Humiliation  and  exaltation,  Phil.  ii. 
"6-11. 

"He  that  believeth,"  John  iii.  18; 
John  vi.  40,  47. 

Peter  teaching,  Acts  ii.  38. 

Jesus'  words,  Luke  xxiv.  46,  47. 

Work  in  His  name,  Col.  iii.  17. 

Peter  again.  Acts  iii.  6. 

Full  consecration  of  all  to  His  name, 
Acts  XV.  26. 

The  right  to  become  the  sons  of  God, 
John  i.  12  ;  xii.  20. 

What  we  may  do,  Mark  ix.  41. 

Glory  and  doiranion,  Rev.  i.  5,  6. 

WMiy  saints  are  in  heaven,  Rev.  vii.  14. 

Are  you  a  believer?  Will  you  have 
cxeflasting  life  ?  W^here  will  you  spend 
ttemity?     "What  think  ye  of  Christ?" 


John  iii.  16.     "  For  God  so  loved  the 

world,  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten 

Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  on  him 

should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting 
life." 

Hymn,  "O!  for  a  thousand  tongues 
to  sing."  W.  M.  G. 

GRACE. 

1.  Its  source,  John  i.  14-17  ;  Rom.  v. 
15  ;  I  Cor.  i.  3,  4. 

2.  All  grace  comes  from  God,  i  Peter 
v.  10. 

3.  To  whom  does  he  offer  grace.  Matt, 
xxi.  31  ;  Hosea  xiii.  9  ;  John  viii.  4-12. 

4.  Not  of  works,  Eph.  ii.  8,  9  ;  2  Tim 
i.  9  ;  Rom.  xi.  6. 

5.  It  bringeth  salvation,  Titus  ii. 
11-14. 

6.  We  are  justified  freely  by  his  grace, 
Titus  iii.  7  ;  Rom.  iii.  24. 

7.  Sin  reigned  unto  death,  but  grace 
unto  life  eternal,  Rom.  v.  20,  21 ;  vi.  i,  2, 

8.  We  are  not  under  law,  but  under 
grace,  Rom.  vi.  14,  15. 

9.  The  difference  between  the  law  and 
grace,  Deut.  xxi.  18,  Lukexv.  12-24. 

10.  How  are  we  to  get  it?  Heb.  iv.  16. 

11.  His  grace  sufficient  at  all  times, 
2  Cor.  ix.  8  ;  xii.  9. 

12.  Who  have  it  more  freely  ?  Eph. 
vi.  24  ;  James  iv.  6. 

13.  We  are  to  sing  with  grace  in  our 
hearts,  Col.  v.  16. 

14.  What  is  falling  from  grace  ?  Gal. 
V.  1-5. 

15.  Differences  between  government 
and  grace. 

(No  texts  ;  but  retributive  dealings  widi 
Lot,  Jacob,  David,  brought  out,  as  con- 
trasted with  the  Prodigal  Son,  and  the 
surpassing  love  revealed  in  the   Gospel.) 

16.  Last  words  of  Peter  and  John,  2 
Peter  iii.  18  ;  Rev.  xxii.  21. 

D.  L.  Moody. 

AT  FAMILY  PRAYERS. 

Subject,  Growth  in  Grace.  Passages 
to  be  read  with  brief  comment : — Pro  v. 
iv.  18  ;  Eph.  iv.  14,  15  ;  Psa.  Ixxxiv.  5, 
7  ;  I  Cor.  iii.  18  ;  2  Peler  iii.  iS  ;  Phil, 
iii.  12,  14.  H.  B.  Chamberlin. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


^^7 


WHAT  CHRIST  HAS  DONE. 

Taken  our  nature,  John  i.  14 ;  Heb. 
ii.  14. 

Offered  sacrifice  of  self,  Heb.  ix,  14, 
26  ;  X.  12, 

Just  for  unjust,  i  Peter  iii.  18. 

Redeemed  us.  Gal.  iii.  13  ;  Rev,  ▼.  9. 

Made  reconciliation,  Heb,  ii.  17, 

Justified  believers,  Acts  xiii.  39. 

Bought  His  people,  i  Cor.  vi.  20. 

Wrought  out  righteousness,  Rom.  iii. 
22. 

Given  citizenship,  Eph.  ii.  19. 

Appointed  kingdom,  Luke  xii,  32, 

Wherefore,  &c.  Heb.  sii.  28. 


WHAT  CHRIST  IS  DOING. 

•Knowing  us  personally,  John  x.  14  j 
2  Tim.  ii.  19. 
.    Sympathizing,.  Heb.  iv.  15, 

Succouring,  Heb.  ii.  18, 

Guiding,  John  x.  3,  4, 

Blessing,  Acts  iii.  26. 

Upholding  all  things,  Heb.  i.  3, 

Imparting  gifts,  Eph.  iv.  8,  11. 

Interceding,  Heb.  vii.  25 ;  ix.  24. 

Preparing  a  people,  Titus  ii.  14. 

Preparing  a  home,  John  xiv.  3, 

Receiving  worship.  Rev.  v.  12-14. 


WHAT  CHRIST  WILL  DO. 

Come  in  the  clouds,  Matt.  xxvi.  64. 

Raise  us  up,  Jno.  vi.  39-44. 

Make  alive,  i  Cor.  xv,  22. 

Receive  to  Himself,  John  xiv.  3, 

Say,  come  ye  blessed.  Matt,  xxv.  34. 

"  Give  new  name,"  Rev.  ii.  17. 

Give  crown  of  righteousness,  2  Tim. 
iv.  8. 

"  Confess  His  name,"  Rev.  iii.  5. 
"  Present  you  faultless,"  Jude  24. 
Lead  to  living  fountains.   Rev.  vii.  17. 
Take  vengeance  on  ungodly,  2  Thess. 
i.  7,  8. 


FAITHFUL. 

1.  Faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us  our 
sins,  I  John  i.  9. 

2.  Faithful  word,  Titus  i.  9. 

3.  Faithful  High  Priest  in  things  per- 
taining to  God,  Heb.  ii.  17. 

4.  Faithful  and  true  witness.  Rev. 
iii.  14. 

5.  Faithful  that  promised,  Heb.  x.  23. 

6.  Faithful  Creator,  i  Peter  iv.  ig. 

7.  Faithful  saying,  for  if  we  be  dead 
with  Him  we  shall  also  live  with  Him^ 
2  Tim.  ii.  11. 


THE  CRIES  OF  JESUS. 

1.  The  awakening  cry,  John  vii.  28, 

2.  The  inviting  cry,  John  vii.  37. 

3.  The  life-giving  cry,  John  xi,  43. 

4.  The  testifying  cry,  John  xii.  44-50. 

5.  The  agonizing  cry.   Matt,  xxvii.  46. 

6.  The  satisfying  cry,  Matt,  xxvii.  50. 
-    The  -"ictorious  cry,  i  Thess.  iv.  16. 


VOICES  OF  JESUS. 

Shepherd's  voice — Follow  me. 
Master's  voice — Occupy. 
Saviour's  voice — Come  unto  me. 
Teacher's  voice — Learn  of  me. 
feridegroorn's  voice — Open  to  mo. 
Friend's  voice — Counsel  thee. 
Physician's  voice — Wilt  thou  be  made- 
whole  ? 


CHRIST,  THE  WHOLE   ARMOUR 
OF  GOD. 

Let  us  put  on  the  armour  of  light, 
Put  ye  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  Rom. 
xiii.  12,  14. 

Truth,  Eph.  vi.  14.  I  am  the  truth, 
John  xiv.  6. 

Righteousness,   Eph.   vi.    14.     Christ 

Jesus,  who  of  God  is  made  unto  us  .  .  . 

Righteousness,  i  Cor.  i.  30. 

Peace,  Eph.  vi.  15.  He  is  our  peace,. 
Eph.  ii.  14. 

Shield  of  faith,  Eph.  vi.  16.  Behold, 
O  God,  our  shield,  Ps.  Ixxxiv.  9. 

Salvation,  Eph.  vi.  17.  Mine  eyes- 
have  seen  Thy  salvation,  Luke  ii.  30. 

Word  of  God,  Eph.  vi.  17.  His  name 
is  called  the  Word  of  God,  Rev.  xix.  13. 

CHRIST  THE  WHOLE  ARMOUR  OF  GOD. 

1.  The  whole  armour  :  Light,  Rom. 
xiii.  12  ;  I  am  the  light,  John  viii:  12  ;, 
Righteousness,  2  Cor.  vi.  7  ;  Christ  for 
everything,  i  Cor.  i.  30.  . 

2.  -Loins  girt — Christ  for  .service. 

3.  Breastplate — Christ  for  the  affec- 
tions. 

4.  Feet  shod — Christ  for  the  \yalk. 

5.  Shield  against  fiery  darts — Christ 
for  temptation. 

6  Helmet — Christ  for  protection. 

7  Sword — Christ  for  warfarfi- 


158 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


THE  LORD'S  HANDS. 

Pierced  for  the  sins  of  His  people. 
Psalm  xxii.  i6;  John  xx.  25. 

Graven  willi  their  names.   Isa.  xlix.  16. 
Healing   for  their  infirmities.     Mark  i. 

41. 

Filled  for  their  needs.  Exodus  xxviii. 
14;  xxix.  9,  marg. 

Opened  for  their  supply.  Psalm  cxlv. 
16. 

Uplifted  in  blessing.     Luke  xxiv.  50. 

•Strong  for  their  defence.  Psalm 
•cxxxviii.  7. 

Sustenance  for  their  weariness.  Cant, 
ii.  6. 

Cunning  for  their  fashioning.  Cant. 
vii.  I  ;  Psalm  cxix.  73  ;  Phil.  iii.  21. 

Re-assuring  for  their  fears.     Rev.  i.  19. 

Upholding  for  their  weakness.  Isaiah 
xli.  10. 

Hiding  in  preparation  for  service. 
Isaiah  xlix.  2. 

Power-giving  for  their  service.  Neh. 
ii.  18. 


HEBREWS  I.  AND  II. 

In  chap.  i.  we  have  the  true  Son  of 
'God,  the  Heir  of  all  things,  the  Creator 
of  the  world,  higher  than  the  angels.  In 
■chap.  ii.  we  have  Jesus  as  true  Man, 
made  lower  than  the  angels.  The  con- 
trast is  brought  out  by  a  reference  to  the 
following  verses  connected  together  : — 

CHAP.    I. — AS  SON  OF  GOD. 

The  brightness  of  His  glory,  and  ex- 
press image  of  His  person,     v.  3. 

Made  so  much  better  than  the  angels. 
V.  4. 

Sat  down  at  the  right  hand  of  the 
Majesty  on  high.     Equality,     v.  3. 

Thy  years  shall  not  fail.  Eternal. 
v.  12. 

CHAP.    II. — AS   SON    OF   MAN. 

Partaker  of  flesh  and  blood,     v.  14. 
Made   a  little  lower  than  the  angels, 
'v.  9. 

Suffered,  being  tempted,     v.  18. 
Tasted  death  for  every  man.     v.  9. 


THE      THREE      COMMANDS      OF 

JESUS  WITH  REFERENCE  TO 

HIMSELF. 

Come  unto  Me. 
Follow  Me. 
Abide  in  Me. 

COME   UNTO   ME. 

Come  unto  Me.     Matt.  xi.  28-30. 

If  any  man  thirst  let  him  come.  John 
vii.  37. 

I  am  the  way — no  man  cometh.  John 
xiv.  6. 

Him  that  cometh  unto  me.  John  vi.  37. 

Come  after  me.     Marki.  17. 

Come,  for  all  things  are  ready.  Luke 
xiv.  17. 

Compel  them  to  come  in.  Luke  xiv.  23. 

The  Master  is  come  and  calleth  for 
thee.     John  xi.  28. 

The  Spirit  and  the  bride  say  come. 
Rev.  xxii.  17. 

FOLLOW   ME. 

Jesus  saith,  follow  Me.  Matt.  iv.  19  ; 
vii.  22;  ix.  9;  Mark  xi.  14;  John  i.  43; 
xxi,  2. 

Take  up  thy  cross  and  follow  Me. 
Matt.  xvi.  24;  Mark  x.  21;  Luke  ix.  25. 

Sell   that    thou    hast  and   follow   me, 
Matt,  xix.  21  ;  Luke  ix.  23. 
My  sheep  follow  me.    John  x.  27. 

A  stranger  will  they  not  follow.  John 
x.  5. 

If  any  man  serve  Me  let  him  follow 
Me.    John  xii.  26. 

They  that  follow  the  Lamb.  Rev. 
xiv.  4. 

He  leadeth  me  beside  the  still  waters. 
He  leadeth  me  in  the  paths  of  righteous- 
ness for  His  name's  sake.     Ps.  xxiii. 

ABIDE   IN   ME. 

I  must  abide  at  thy  house.     Luke  xix. 

5- 

Abide  with  us.     Luke  xxiv.  29. 

Abide  in  Me.     John  xv.  4. 

If  a  man  abide  not  in  Me.     John  xv.  6. 

Abide  in  My  love.     John  xv.  10. 

Except  these  abide  in  the  ship.  Acts 
xvii,  3. 

Abide — Continue  in  the  Son.  i  John 
ii.  24. 

Ye  shall  abide  in  Him.     i  John  ii.  27. 

Little  children  abide  in  Him.  i  John 
ii.  28. 

Promises  to  those  who  aljide  in  Jesus. 
John  XV.  5,  7.  • 

He  abideth  faithful.     2  Tim.  ii.  13. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


159 


THE    BELOVED. 

Accepted  in  the  Beloved.     Eph.  i.  6. 

Opening  to  the  Beloved.  Song  of  Sol. 
V.  6. 

Leaning  on  the  Beloved.  Song  of  Sol. 
viii.  5. 

Listening  to  the  Beloved.  Song  of 
Sol.  ii.  8. 

Speaking  well  of  the  Beloved.  Song 
of  Sol.  V.  10-16. 

Fruit-bearing  for  the  Beloved.  Song  of 
Sol.  iv.  16. 

Longing  after  the  Beloved.  Song  of 
Sol.  viii.  14. 


CONFESSING  CHRISF. 
Mark  viii.  38  ;  Rom.  x.  9,  10  ;  Matt. 
X-  32>  33  ;  I  Peter  iii.  18. 


OUR    DUTY    TO     CHRIST    THE 
MEDIATOR. 

To  know  Christ.     Phil.  iii.  10. 
To  honour  Christ.     John  v,  23. 
To  walk  in  Christ.     Col.  ii.  6. 
To  love  Christ,     i  Pet.  i.  8. 
To  trust  in  Christ.     Eph.  i.  12. 
To  rejoice  in  Christ.     Phil.  iii.  3. 


OUR  EXAMPLE. 
Christ,  our  example,  Matt.  x'l.  29  ;  1 
Pet.  i.  15  ;  Phil.  ii.  5  ;  i  John  ii.  6  ;  i 
Peter  ii.  21  ;  John  xiii.  t^.x^THow  did 
Christ  observe  the  Sabbath  : — Luke  iv. 
16  ;  Matt.  xiii.  54  ;  John  xviii.  20  ;  Luke 
vi.  6.  Where  did  Christ  teach  : — Mark 
vi.  2-6  ;  Mark  i.  38  ;  Matt.  iv.  23  ;  Mat. 
v.  I  ;  Matt,  xiii.  2-3  ;  Mark  ii.  13.  How 
did  Christ  teach  ; — Matt.  yi.  29  ;  Luke 
iv.  17  ;  Luke  xx.  22  ;  Luke  vi.  5  ;  Mark 
iv.  12  ;  Matt.  xiii.  3  ;  John  iv.  7-10. 
What  is  Christ's  example  regarding  pray- 
er : — Matt.  xiv.  23  ;  Mark  i,  35  ;  Luke 
V.  16  J  Luke  ix.  28-29  ;  John  xi.  41-42  ; 
|ohn  xvi.  15  ;  Matt.  xxvi.  44-46  ;  John 
xii.  27  ;  Luke  xxii.  32  ;  John  xvii.  9-20. 
Charactei-istics  of  Christ  as  a  man  :— 
John  iv.  34  ;  Matt.  iv.  8-10  ;  Rom.  xv. 
3  ;  2  Cor,  viii.  9  ;  Matt.  xi.  29  ;  John 
xiii.  14-15  ;  Luke  xxii.  27  ;  Matt.  xv.  32; 
John  xi.  33-35  ;  Luke  vii.  13  ;  John  viii. 
12  ;  Luke  xxiii.  34  ;  Matt.  xxvi.  38  ; 
Matt,  xxiii.  13-19  ;  Luke  xix.  45-46  ; 
John  ii.  14-15  ;  John  xiii.  23  ;  Johnxxxv. 
36  ;  Luke  x.  38  ;  Mark  xiv.  3  ;  Luke 
xiv.  I  ;  Luke  xix.  5,  In  conclusion  : — 
[ohn  viii.  12  ;  Col.  ii.  6,  7  ;  Rom.  xv.  5  ; 
I  Pet.  iii.  3,  13  ;  2  Peter  iii    17-18. 

M.  W.  H. 


A  STUDY  OF  CHRIST  AS  THE 
MODEL  TEACHER. 
It  is  important  to  success  in  any  enter- 
prise that  we  should  have  the  most  per- 
fect example  in  every  particular  as  our 
model. 

In  the  Bible  we  have  a  perfect  model 

of  a  teacher  placed  before  us.     We  direct 
your  attention — 

First,  to  the  fact,  Jesus  did  teach  ! 
He  gave  an  example.  See  John  xiii.  13, 
15.  He  is  called  "the  Word,"  John  i. 
I,  &c.  ;  and  a  word  is  a  channel  of  com- 
munication of  thought  from  one  mind  to 
another.  John  i.  18;  "declared"  ihe 
Father,  Gen.  xlix.  10  ;  Deut.  xviii.  15, 
19  ;  Psalm  xl,  6,  10  ;  Isa.  Ixi,  i,  3. 
Applied  by  Jesus  Himself,   Luke  iv.  16, 

I  24. 

;      Succession  and  contrast.     Heb.  i.  i,  2; 

Repeatedly   spoke  of  his  mission  thus, 

John  xviii.  37  :  Luke  iv.  42,  43. 

Why  did  Jesus  teach  ?    i.   Work  given 

him  of  God.     Matt.  xvii.  5  ;  John  v.  30  ; 

John  vii.  16,  18  ;  John  viii.  2,  6. 

2,  Because  he  loved  it   for  the  truth's 

sake  and  souls .      Psalm  x.  4-8  ;  John  iv. 

31,  34  ;  Mark  vi.  34  ;  Mark  x.  21  ;  Matt, 
xxiii.  37. 

Whom  did  he  teach  ?  Generally  his 
own  people.  Matt.  xv.  24,  25,  28 ;  Matt. 
X.  5,  6  ;  Matt.  viii.  10,  13. 

All  whom  he  could  reach.  Matt.  iv. 
X2,  23,  24,  25  ;  Matt.  xi.  I  ;  Mark  i.  33. 

Where  did  he  teach  ?  In  the  syna- 
gogue, sea-side,  &c.  John  iii.  17  ;  John 
iv.  6,  19  ;  Luke  x.  38,  42  ;  Luke  xxiv. 
13,  15- 

Where  greatest  need — most  teachable 
spirit.     Matt.  ix.  13  ;  John  xvi.  12. 

Even  his  enemies.     John  ix.  39,  41. 

What  did  he  teach  ?  Moral  and  scrip- 
tural truths  of  the  Old  Testament.  Mat. 
XV.  2,  6  ;  Matt.  iv.  4,  7,  lo  ;  Mati.  xii. 
3,  5  ;  Matt.  xxii.  29,  32  ;  Luke  x.  25, 
28  ;  Matt,  xxvi.  53,  56  ;  Luke  xxiv.  25. 
27,  44,  48  J  Matt,  xv.,  xxiii. 


i6o 


NOTES  FOR  BIBLE  READINGS. 


Taught  of  Himself.  Matt.  x.  27,  30' ; 
John  ui.  14,  16  ;  John  v.  17,  29  ;  John  vi. 
26,  40  ;John  X.  I,  18  ;  John  xi.  25,  27  ; 
John  xiv.  15,  16. 

How?  I.  After  ample  previous  pre- 
paration ?  Luke  ii.  40,  52.  Lived  and 
practised  the  truth  thirty  years.  Luke 
iii.  23. 

2.  Out  of  a  large  human  experience. 
Heb.  iv.  14,  16  ;  Heb.  ii.  17,  18  ;  Heb. 
V.  I,  2  ;  Heb.  x.  7,  9. 

3.  Fulness  of  Spirit.  Isa.  xli.  i,  3  ; 
Isa.  xi.  I,  5  ;  Luke  i.  35  ;  Luke  iii.  21, 
22;  Luke  iv.  I,  2,  14;  John  iii.  34;  i 
Cor.  ii.  4,  16. 

4.  Weight  and  certainty.  Matt.  v.  22, 
28,  32,  34,  39  ;  Matt.  vii.  28,  29  ;  John 
iii.  II,  13  ;  Jbhn  ix.  4,  5  ;  i  Cor.  xiv.  37. 

5.  With  all  his  might  ?  John  ix.  45  ; 
John  xi.  8,  9  ;  Matt.  xiv.  13,  25. 

6.  With  loving  kindness.  Isa.  xl.  11  ; 
Psalm  Ixxii.  12,  14  ;  Luke  iv.  22  ;  Mark 
x.  15,  16  ;  Matt,  xviii.  10,  14  ;  Luke  vii. 
35,  60 ;  John  xi.  33,  36. 

7.  Fearless  and  faithful.  Matt.  xi.  20  ; 
Matt,  xxiii.  13  ;  Matt.  xv.  7,  14. 

8.  It  was  steeped  in  prayer.  Luke  iv. 
21,  22  ;  Luke  vi.  12,  13  ;  Maft.  xiv.  22, 
23  •  Luke  ix.  28  ;  John  xi.  41,  43  ;  Luke 
xxii.  31,  32  ;  Heb.  v.  7,  8  ;  John  xvii. 
12  ;  John  ix.  ii,   17. 

9.  Plain  and  simple.  Matt.  xi.  26  ; 
Mark  xii.  27  ;  John  vii,  14,  15  ;  John  iii. 
12  ;  John  xvi.  12,  13  ;  Matt.  xvi.  6,  12. 

10.  Abounded  with  illustration.  Matt. 
vi.  I,  4  ;  Matt.  v.  15  ;  Matt.  xvi.  18  ; 
Matt.  xxvi.  30  ]  Matt.  vii.  24,  27  ;  Matt, 
xiii.  I,  8. 

11.  Object  lesson.  Little  child  in 
midst  of  disciples.  "Penny."  "  Seest 
thou  this  woman." 

12.  Employed  questions.  Addressed 
reason. ,  Luke  ii.  46,  49  ;  Luke  vi.  8,  9  ; 
Luke  X,  25,  37  ;  Matt.  xxii.  15,  52. 

13.  Much  repetition.  •  Isa.  xxviii.  9, 
13;  Matt.  xiii.  51,  52;  Matt.  vi.  2,  15, 
16  ;■  Matt.  vii.  7  ;  Mark  ix.  43,  48. 

14.  Very  flexible  and  various.  John 
iv.  ;  Mott.  xxii. 


15.  The  word  was  accompanied  with 
works  of  grace.  Matt.  iv.  23,  24  ;  Matt.. 
xi.  1,6;    Mark  vi.  54,  56  ;  Mark  iii.  7,. 

10. 

16.  What  followed  his  teaching  ? 

1.  Popular  attention  and  interest.  Matt, 
vii.  28,  29  ;  Matt.  xxi.  7,  Ii  ;  Mark  vL 
2  ;  Mark  xi.  18  ;  Luke  ,iv.  32  ;  Luke  xix. 
47,  48  ;  John  vii.  11,  13,  45,  49. 

2.  Many  souls  won,  John  iv.  I  ;  Johi:ki 
i.  40,  41,  43,  49  ;  John  x.  25,  27  ;  John, 
xii.  10,  II  ;  Matt.  xvi.  13,  17. 

3.  Many  hardened — Some  "  went, 
back."  Luke  ii.  34,  35  ;  Luke  iv.  28,, 
29  ;  Mark  ii.  5,  6  ;  John  v.  16,  18  ;  Luke 
vii.  II. 

4.  Noble  band  of  helpers  was  raised 
up.  Matt.  X.  I  ;  Luke  vi.  12,  17  ;  Luke 
X.  I,  2  ;  Luke  ix.  49,  50  ;  Acts  iv.  27,. 
33  ;  Acts  i.  4,  8. 

5.  Teaching  with  power.     John  xii.  23,. 

24  ;  John   iv.    10,   13,   14  ;  John  vii.    37,, 

39;  Johnvi.  47,  51.         . 

F.  H.  Marling. 


THE  DAY  OF  THE  LORD. 

"  He  shall  stand  at  the  latter  day  upon> 
the  earth." — ^Job  xix.  25. 

Appointed  a  day.     Acts  xvii.  31. 

Day  is  near — a  cloudy  day.  Ezek.. 
XXX.  3. 

Day  of  darkness — not  light.  Amos  v. 
18. 

Day  of  destruction.     Isa.  xiii.  6,  9,  13 > 

Of  darkness  and  gloom.     Joel  i,  15. 

Great  and  very  terrible.     Joel  ii.  11. 

Wonders  in  heaven  and  earth.     Joel  ii. 

30-31- 

Darkness — smoke — fire.     Joel  ii.  30-31.. 

Near  at  hand.     Zeph.  i.  14. 

Of  wrath— of  the  trumpet.  Zeph.  i, 
15-18, 

Of  the  Lord's  anger.     Zeph.  ii.  2,  3. 

Who  may  abide  the  day.     Mai.  iii.  2. 

Shall  burn  as  an  oven.     Matt,  iv.  i. 

Wonderful  chapter.     Zach.  xiv. 


How  shall  Christ  come  ? 

In  the  glory  of  His  Father.  Matt.  xvi.. 
27. 

With  angels.     Matt.  xxiv.  30. 

With  power  and  great  glory.  Matt.. 
xxiv.  31. 

Shall  sit  on  His  throne.  Matt.  xxvi.  31, 
•  On  the  right  hand  of  power.  Matt. 
xxvi.  31. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE     READINGS. 


i6i 


111  the  clouds  of  Heaven.  Matt.  xxvi. 
64. 

V,'ilh  the  voice  of  the  archangel,  and 
the  trump  of  God.     I  Thess.  iv.  16-17. 

With    ten    thousand    saints.      Jude   i. 

14-15- 

When? 

As  a  thief  in  the  night,    i  Thes.  v.  I -2. 

Heaven  shall  pass  away.  2  Peter  iii. 
10-12. 

Draweth  nigh.     James  v.  7-8. 

Cometh  quickly.     Rev.  xxii.  12-17-20. 

Visions  of  it.  Rev.  vi.  12-17  ;  Rev. 
XX.  11-15. 

Exhortations.  2  Cor.  v.  lo-ii;  i  Cor. 
iii.  8;  2  Thess.  i.  6-9;  2  Tim.  iv.  1-8; 
Heb.  ix.  27-28;  I  Pet.  iv.  5-7-17-18;  I 
Pet.  V.  4:  I  John  iv.  17. 

C.  P.  J. 


CHRIST  IS  ALL  AND  IN  ALL. 

Christ  is  the  Saviour  of  men.  Receive 
Him.     2  Tim.  i.  10. 

Christ  is  the  Door,  Enter  and  be 
saved.     John  x.  9. 

Christ  is  the  Way,  Walk  ye  in  Him. 
John  xiv.  6. 

Christ  is  the  Light  of  the  World. 
Walk  in  the  Light.     John  viii.  12. 

Christ  is  the  Bread  of  Life.  Eat  and 
be  satisfied.     John  vi.  35. 

Christ  is  the  Smitten  Rock.  Drink  of 
the  living  streams,     i  Cor.  x.  4. 

Christ  is  our  Peace.  Rest  in  Him. 
Eph.  ii.  14. 

Christ  is  our  Shepherd,  Hear  His 
voice.     John  x.   ii. 

Christ  is  our  Example.  Follow  Him. 
John  xiii.  15. 

Christ  is  our  High  Priest.  Look  up  to 
Him.     Heb.  vii.  26. 

Christ  is  our  Lord.  Obey  Him.  John 
xiii.  13. 

Christ  is  the  King  of  kings.  Wait  for 
His  appearing.     Rev.  xix.  16. 


THE  "  ALL  THINGS  "  OF  THE 
BIBLE. 

IN    RELATION    TO   THE   BELIEVER. 

They  are  of  God,  as  to  their  source. 
2  Cor.  V.  18. 

Are  for  the  sake  of  believers,  as  to  their 
object.     2  Cor.  iv.  15. 

Work  together  for  good,  as  to  their 
purpose.     Romans  viii.  28. 

Christ  head  over  the  Church,  as  to 
their  arrangement.     Eph.  i.  22. 

l"he  believer  may  know,  hence  his 
privilege.      I  John  ii.  20. 

The  believer  can  do,  hence  liis  power. 
Phil.  iv.  13. 

10 


Granted  in  answer  to  prayer,  .hence 
his  det)endence.     Matt.  xxi.  22. 

Only  possible  to  faith,  hence  his 
respojisibility .     Mark  ix.  23. 

Are  to  be  proved,  hence  his  diligence. 
I  Thess.  v.  21. 

Thanks  to  be  given  for,  hence  his 
gratitude.     Eph.  v.  20. 

Their  end  at  hand,  hence  his  watch- 
fulness,    I  Peter  iv,  7. 

To  be  inherited  by  the  believer,  hence 
h\s,hope.     Rev.  xxi.  5. 

"All  Things"  occurs  221  times  in 
the  Bible. 


PSALM  CXLV.— KEYWORP  :    ALL. 

The  Lord  is  good  to  all,  and  his  tender 
mercies  are  over  all  his  works. — Verse  g. 

The  Lord  is  righteous  in  all  his  ways, 
and  holy  in  all  his  works. — Verse  17. 

The  Lord  is  nigh  unto  all  them  that 

call  upon  him,  to  all  that  call  upon  him  in 

truth. — Verse  18. 

The  Lord  upholdeth  all  that  fall,  and 
raiseth  up  all  those  that  be  bowed  down. 
—Verse  14. 

The  Lord  preserveth  all  them  that 
love  him. — Verse  20. 

The  eyes  of  all  wait  upon  thee  ;  and 
thou  givest  them  their  meat  in  due 
season. — Verse  15. 

"  All  thy  works  shall  praise  thee,  O 
Lord,  and  thy  saints  shall  bless  thee." 


ALL  THINGS  IN  CHRIST. 

All  things  are  delivered  unto  me  of 
my  father. — Matt.  xi.  27. 

All  things,  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask 
in  prayer,  believing,  ye  shall  receive. — 
Matt.  xxi.  22. 

All  things  are  possible  to  him  that 
believeth. — Mark  ix.  23. 

All  things  work  together  for  good  to 
them  that  love  God. — Rom.  viii.  28, 


SINGLE  WORDS  OF  WONDROUS 
MEANING.—"  ALL." 

Air  have  sinned,  and  come  short  of 
the  glory  of  God.     Rom.  iii.  23. 

They  are  all  gone  aside,  they  are  all 
together  become  filthy  ;  there  is  none 
that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one.  Psa.  xiv.3. 

The  Scripture  hath  concluded  all 
under  sin,  that  the  promise  by  faith  of 
Jesus  Christ  might  be  given  to .  them 
that  believe.     Gal.  iii.  22. 


e62 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  His  Son 
cleanseth  us  from  all  sin.     i  John  i.  7. 

Who  forgiveth  all  thine  iniquities; 
who  healeth  all  thy  diseases.  Psa.  ciii.  3. 

In  all  their  affliction  He  was  afflicted, 
and  the  Angel  of  His  presence  saved 
them.     Isaiah  Ixiii.  9. 

My  God  shall  supply  all  your  need 
according  to  His  riches  in  glory  by 
i'^Virist  Jesus.     Phil.  iv.  19. 

Son,  thou  sirt  ever  M?ith  me,  and  all 
that  I  have  i3  thine.     Luke  xv.  31. 

Vv'Jaether — the  vsrorld,  or  life,  or  death, 
or  things  present,  or  things  to  come : 
all  are  yours  ;  and  ye  are  Christ's  :  and 
Christ  isi  God's,     i  Cor.  iii.  22. 


THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD 
John  X,  11-18. 

1.  Bible    Shepherds,    Gen.    Ixvii.  3  ; 

Exod.  ii.  17 ,    Luke  ii.  8,  20 ;    i  Sam. 
xvi.  II,  19;  Matt.  XV.  24. 

2.  The  Lord  my  Shepherd,  Psa.  xxiii. 
I,  4;  I  Pet.  ii.  25  ;  v. 4  ;  Heb.xiii.  20,  21, 

3.  He  kno\^j  his  Sheep,  John  x.  14  ; 

Ezek.  XXXV.  11   13  ;  2  Tim."  ii,  19  ;  John 
X.  27. 

4.  He  proviocs  for  his  sheep,  John  x, 
9;  Psa.  xviii.  i,  2;  Isa.  Ixv.  11;  Psa. 
xxxiv.  10;  Roiw.  viii.  28. 

5.  He  guides  his  sheep,  John  x.  3, 16  . 

Psa.  xxiii.  3  ;  Prov,  viii.  28 ;  Psa.  xlviii. 
14  ;  John  xvi,  13. 

6.  He  gives  His  life  for  his  sheep, 
John  xviii.  11,  15  ;  Isa.  liii.  6;  Rom.  v. 
8  ;  Eph,  V.  2  ;  Tit.  ii,  14. 

7.  He  delights  in  his  sheep,  John  x. 
28-30  ;  Mai.  iii.  17  ;  i  Pet.  ii.  9  ;  Rev. 
vii.  17;  Psa,  ciii.  13. 

J.  H.  Vincent,  D,D. 


SEVENFOLD  TESTIMONY  TO 
CHRIST. 

The  Father's.  Luke  iii.  22 ;  Mark 
ix.  7  ;  Rom.  i.  4. 

The  Spirit's.  John  xv.  26 ;  Acts  v.  32. 

Angel's.  Birth.  Lukeii.  10  ;  Death. 
Dan,  ix.  26;  Resurrection.     Luke  xxiv. 

4—7- 

Man's.  Acts  x.  43  ;  John  i.  7,  32 ; 
John  vi.  69  ;  Acts  v.  32, 

Devils'.     Mark  v.  12  ;  Luke  iv.  41. 

Works'.    John  v.  36  ;  x.  25  ; 

Scripture's.  John  v.  39;  Luke  xxiv. 44. 


THE  MIND  OF  JESUS 
Compassion.     Mark  viii.  2. 
Resignaticn.     Luke  xxii.  42. 
Devotedness.     Luke  ii.  49, 
Forgiveness.     Luke  xxiii.  34, 
Meekness.     Matt.  xi.  29. 
Thankfulness.     Matt.  xi.  25. 
Unselfishness.     Rom.  xv.  ^. 
Submission,     Matt.  iv.  7. 
Prayerfulness.     Luke  vi.  12, 
Love.     Eph.  V.  2. 
Sympathy.     John  xi.  35. 
Reprover.     Luke  xxii.  61. 
Gentleness.     John  xxi.  15. 
Endurance.    Heb.  xii.  3. 
Pleasing.    John  viii.  29. 
Grief.     Mark  iii.  5. 
Humility,     John  xiii.  4-5. 
Patience.     Isaiah  xiii.  7. 
Subjection.     John  xiv.  31. 
Forgiving,     i  Peter  ii.  23. 
Bearing  the  Cross.    John  xix.  17. 
Zeal.     John  ii.  17. 
Benevolence.     Acts  x.  38. 
Firmness.     Matt.  iv.  10. 
Receiving  sinners.     Luke  xv.  2. 
Guilelessness.     i  Peter  ii.  22. 
Industrious.     John  ix.  4 
Confidingness.     i  Peter  ii,  23. 
Love  of  Unity.     John  xvii.  21. 
Not  of  the  World.     John  xvii.  14. 
Calmness  in  Death.     Luke  xxiii.  46. 


THE    SECOND     COMING    OF 
CHRIST. 

It  is  named  in  God's  word  as  that 
which  believers  should  long  for,  2  Tim. 
iv.  8 ;  Titus  ii.  13  ;  Heb.  ix.  28  ;  Rev, 
xxii.  20. 

ATTITUDE    OF    THE   EARLY   CHURCH. 

I  Thess.  i.  10;  Phil.  iii.  20;  2  Thess.ii.i. 

PRACTICAL     DUTIES     TAUGHT    BY   THE 
DOCTRINE. 

Watchfulness. — Matt.  xxiv.  42-51  ; 
Mark  xiii.  33-37 ;  Luke  xxi.  28,  34-36  ; 
Rev.  iJi.  3  ;  Luke  xii.  45,  46. 

Faithfulness. — Matt,  xxv,  14-20;  Matt, 
xxiv.  48-51 ;  Luke  xix.  13-15. 

Wajcefulness. — Matt.  xxv.  1-13  ;  i 
Thess.  i.  8. 

Joy. — Acts  i.  II.  Compare  with  Luka 
xxiv.  52  ;  Col.  iii.  4 ;  Phil.  iv.  4,  5  ;  r 
Pet.  i.  7,  8  ;  Rom,  v.  2  ;  viii,  24.  The 
hope  is  in  Christ's  coming.- 

Patience. — Heb.  x.  36,  37 ;  i  Cor.  iv. 
5  ;  James  v.  7,  8,  In  anticipation  of 
trouble. — ^John  xiv.  r-3.  In  actual 
trouble — i  Thess.  iv.  13-18. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS, 


163 


MOTIVES    ARISING    FROM    THE    DOCTRINE. 

For    holiness  of  believers. — i    Thess. 

iii.  13  ;   I  Thess.  v.  23  ;  Titus  ii.   11-15  ; 

2.  Peter  iii.  11-13.     For  abiding  in  Christ. 

— I  John  ii.   28.     For  perseverance, — 

Rev.  iii,  11.  .  For  mini.sters  preaching  it. 

— I  Peter  v.  2-4 ;  2  Tim.  iv.  1-4  ;  i  Thess. 
ii.  19. 

WARNING   AGAINST   APOSTASY. 

Luke  xvii,  24-37;  2  Thess.  ii.  1-12  ; 
I  Tim.  iv.  I,  2  ;  2  Tim.  iii,  1-5  ;  2  Peter 
iii.  1-4 ;  2  John  i.  7. 

AN    APPEAL    TO    SINNERS. 

2  Thess.    i.   6-10  ;   Acts  iii.   19-21. 

A    PERSONAL,    NOT   A    SPIRITUAL  COMING. 

Matt.  X.  7  ;  Matt.   xiii.   11-52;  Matt. 

xxiv.  30 ;  xii.   44,  48  ;  John   xxi.  19-23  ; 

Luke  xix.    11-15 ;  John  xiv.    1-3;  Luke 
xii.  35-40 

V/hat  the  angels   say. — Acts  i.  9-11. 

What  Peter  by  the  Holy  Ghost  says. — 

Acts  iii.  19-21.    What   Paul  says  by  the 

Holy  Ghost. — i  Cori.  7;  i  Thess. iv.i6. 

What  Christ  said   to  John.     Rev.   xxii. 

7,  12,  20. 

RELATION   OF     THE     COMING   TO   ISRAEL, 
THE   CHURCH,    AND   THE   WORLD. 

Israel  (the  Jews)  to  be  restored  to  the 
Holy  Land.  The  land  promised  uncon- 
ditionally.— Gen.  xiii.  14-17.  Its  boun- 
daries not  yet  fully  occupied. — Gen.  xv. 
17,  18.  An  everlasting  possession. — 
<jen.  xvii.3-8;  Deut.  xi.  12;  Lev.xxv.23. 
An  everlasting  throne.— i  CHron.  xvii. 
4-17.  Their  restoration. — Isaiah  i.  25- 
^7 ;  Isaiah  ii.  2,  3;  Isaiah  xi.  10-13; 
Jer.iii.3-8  ;  Jer.xxxiii.7-16  ;  Ezek.xxxvii. 
.21-28:  Jer.  iii.  16-18.  To  the  church. — 
JR.om.  viii.  23  ;  i  Cor.  i,  7  ;  Phil.  iii.  20  ; 

Heb.  ix.  28  ;  2  Tim.  iv.  8 ;  Titus  ii.  13  ; 
1  Thess.  i.  10. 

Coming  of  the  Lord   in   the  air   for 

believers.     Christ  seen  only  by  believers 

after  the  resurrection.     Acts  i.  2,  3,  10  ; 

John  xiv.  19;  I   Thess,    iv.  16;  Acts  x. 

41  ;  I    Cor.   XV.    18.      Shout,    word   of 
■command. 

Saints   only  will  understand  the  word 

of  command, — John  xii.  28,  29 ;  Acts  ix. 

7  compared  with    Acts   xxii.  9  ;  Dan.  x. 


7  ;  I  Cor.  XV.  51,  52.  The  looking  for 
Christ  is  not  death. — i  Thess.  iv.  14-18  ; 
Phil,  iii,  21;  I  Cor,  xv.  23,  49-54.  With 
Christ, — John  xii.  26;  John  xiv.  3,  19: 
John  xvii.  24;   i  Thess.  v.  10. 

BELIEVERS   AND   THE  JUDGMENT. 

Their  persons  and  sins  do  'not  come 
into  judgment  ;  but  their  works  do. — 
Rom,  xiv,  10;  I  Cor,  iii.  8,  13-17;  2  Cor, 
V.  10  ;  Eph,  vi,  8  ;  Rev,  xxii.  12  ;  James 
i,  12;  2  Tim,  iv.  7,  8;  I  Peter  v,  iv;  Col. 
iii,  25. 

COMING    OF    THE  LORD  TO  THE  EARTH, 

Coming  of  the  Lord  is  when  He  comes 
for  His  saints.  Day  of  the  Lord  is  the 
day  of  judgments,  visitations,  and  the 
thousand  years  of  His  reign. 

For  His  saints.  —  Matt.  xxiv.  29,  30; 
Mark  xiv.  62  ;  2  Thess.  i.  7  ;  Rev.  i.  7  ; 
Zech,  xiv,  i,  4,  5;  Rev.  xvii.  14,  Com- 
pare with  Rev,  xix.  14;  Jude  14;  Col.  iii; 
4;  I  Thess.  iii,  13;  i  Thess.  iv.  14. 

THE  BELIEVER  REIGNS   WITH   CHRIST. 

Rom.  viii.  17  ;  i  Cor.  vi.  2,  3  ;  Matt. 
xix.  28  ;  Luke  xii.  25-37  ;  2  Tim.  ii,  12  ; 
Rev,  i,  6;  Rev.  iii.  21;  Rev.  v.  9,  10. 

ORDER  OF  EVENTS   IN  CHRIST'S  COMING. 

1.  The  dead  in  Christ  arise,  and  those 
who  are  alive  and  remain  are  caught  up 
together  with  them  in  the  clouds,  i  Thess, 
iv.  14,  18, 

A  literal  restoration  of  the  Jews  to  their 
own  lan^.  Part  of  them  return  in  unbe- 
lief,— Isaiah  vi,  9,  13;  Isaiah  xvii.  10-14; 
Dan,  ix.  24-27.  Compare  with  Zech,  xi. 
14-17.  Zech.  xii.  8-14;  Isaiah  xviii.  3-7; 
Ezek.  xxii.  1-9;  Zech.  xiii.  1-9. 

2.  The  temple  will  be  rebuilt.  2  Thess. 
ii.  4;  Rev.  xi.  1-8. 

3 .  The  Jews  will  enter  into  a  covenant 
with  antichrist.     Dan.  ix,  27;  John  v.  43. 

4.  After  three  and  a  half  years  anti- 
christ reveals  his  true  character.  Dan. 
vii.  19-25  ;  Dan.  viii.  23-25  ;  Dan.  ix. 
27;  Dan.  xi.  36  ;  2  Thess.  ii.  3,  9  ;  Rev. 
xiii. 

5.  He  stops  the  sacrifice  in  the  temple 
and  sets  up  his  own  image  for  worslii}>. — 
Dan.  ix.  27;  Dan.  xi.  31;  Matt.  xxiv.  15; 
Rev.  xiii.  14-17;  Dan.  xii.  ii. 


164 


NOTES  FOR  BIBLE  READINGS. 


6.  The  two  witnesses  are  killed.  Rev. 
XI.   7. 

7.  The  devil  cast  out  of  the  air  into 
the  earth.     Rev.  xii.  7-12. 

S;  The  Holy  City  (Jerusalem)  trodden 

down.     Dan.   ix.   26 ;  Rev.  xi.  2 ;  Luke 
xxi.  24. 

9.  Great  tribulations  come  upon  the 
world,  Jer,  xxx.  7 ;  Dan.  xii.  i ;  Matt, 
xxiv.  21;  Rev.  vii.  14;  Rev.  iii.  10; 
Luke  xxi.  34-36;  Zech.  xiv.  12. 

10.  Israel  is  saved  from  these  tribula- 
tions by  the  personal  appearance  of 
Christ.  Zech.  xiv.  1-3 ;  Rev.  xix ;  2 
Thess.  ii.  4-7. 

THE    RESURRECTIONS. 

Difference  in  character  of  the  resurrec- 
tions of  the  believer  and  unbeliever. 
John  V.  28,  29  ;  i  Thess.  iv.  13-18  ;  i 
Cor.  XV.  42,  54,  55- 

Difference  in  the  time  of  resurrections 

of  believers  and  unbelievers.     Rev.  xx. 

4-6 ;  Luke  xiv.   14  ;    Isaiah   xxvi.   6-9  ; 

Isaiah  xxvi.  12,  14,  19,  21  ;  Ezek.  xxxvii. 

1-14:  Dan.   vii.   17-27;    Dan.   xii.    1-3; 

Matt.  xiii.  38-43  ;  Psalm  xlix.    14,    15  ; 

Matt.  xxii.  30  ;  Luke  xx.  35,  36  ;  i  Cor. 

XV.  23;  Phil.  iii.  11  j  Acts  xxiv.  14,  15. 

J.  H.  B. 

••  UNTIL  HE  COME." 

When  we  eat  the   Lord's  supper  we 

show  forth   His  death,  until  He  come. 
I  Cor.  xi.  26. 

We  are  using  our  talents  until  He 
come.     Luke  xix.  13. 

We  are  fighting  the  good  fight  of  faith, 
until  He  come.  •  i  Tim.  vi.  12-  24. 

We  are  enduring  tribulation,  until 
He  come.     2  Thess.  i,  7. 

We  are  to  be  patient,  until  He  come. 
James  v,  8. 


We  are  to  wait  for  a  crown  of  righteous- 
ness, until  He  come.     2  Tim.  iv.  8. 

We  wait  for  a  crown  of  glory,  until 
He  come,     i  Peter  v.  4, 

We  wait  for  a  reunion  with  departed 
friends,  until  He  come,    i  Thess.iv.r3-i8. 

We  wait  for  Satan  to  be  bound,  until 
He  come.     Rev.  xx.  3.        D.  L.  Moody. 


JESUS  IS  MINE. 

Now  I  have  found  a  Friend.     Cant, 
v.  16.  Jesus  is  mine. 

His  love  shall  never  end.     Hebrews 
xiii.  8.  He  is  divine. 

Though  earthly  joys  decrease.     Hab. 
iii.  17,  18. 

Though    human    friendship's    cease. 
Psa.  xxvii.  10. 

Now  I  have  lasting  peace.  John  xiv.27, 
Jesus  is  mine. 

Though  I  grow  poor  and  old.     Isa 
xlvi,  4.  Jesus  is  mine. 

He  will  my  faith  uphold.   I'sa.  lxviii.26. 

Jesus  is  mine. 
He  shall  my  wants  supply.  Psa.  xxiii.i 

His  precious  blood  is  nigh.  Eph.  i.  7 

Naught  can  my  hope  destroy,     Heb 
vi.  19,  Jesus  is  mine, 

When  earth  shall  pass  away.  2  Peter 
iii.  10.  Jesus  is  mine. 

In  the -great  judgment  day.    John  v. 
28,  29.  Jesus  is  mine. 

Oh  what  a  glorious  thing,  i  John  iii. 2. 

Then  to   behold    my    King.     Isaiah 
xxxiii.  17. 

On  tuneful  harp  to  sing.     Rev.  v,  8. 

Jesus  is  mine. 
Farewell  mortality,     Phil,  i,  21, 

Jesus  is  mine, 
Welcome  eternity,     2  Cor,  v,  i, 

Jesus  is  mine. 
He  my  Redemption  is.      i  Cor.  i.  3a 

Wisdom  and  Righteousness,     i  Cor 
i.  30. 
Life,  Light,  and  Holiness,  i  Ccr.  i.  30 
Jesus  is  mine. 


NOT£S   FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


1^)5 


THE  HOLY  SPIRIT. 


THE    NAMES   OF  THE    HOLY   SPIRIT. 

Spirit.     Eph.  v.  i8. 
Holy  Spirit.    Luke  xi.  3. 
Spirit  of  Truth.    John  xiv.  17. 
Spirit  of  Adoption.     Rom.  viii.  15. 
Spirit  of  God.     Rom.  viii.  9. 
Spirit  of  Christ.     Rom.  viii.  9. 
Spirit  of  Glory,     i  Peter  iv.  14. 
Spirit  of  Grace.     Heb.  x.  29. 
Spirit  of  Promise.     Eph.  i.  13. 
Spirit  of  Wisdom.     Eph.  i.  17. 
Good  Spirit.     Neh.  ix.  20. 
Spirit  of  the  Lord.     Luke  iv.  18. 
Holy  Ghost.     Acts  i.  5. 
Comforter.     John  xiv.  16. 

THE    OFFICES   OF   THE    HOLY    SPIRIT. 

Comforter.    John  xiv.  16. 
Teacher.    John  xiv.  26. 
Guide.     John  xvi.  13. 
Witness.     Rom.  viii.  16. 
Intercessor.     Rom.  viii.  26,  27. 
Sanctifier.     i  Cor.  vi.  11. 
Reprover.     John  xvi.  8. 
Revealer.     Eph.  iii.  5. 
Giver.     Rom.  v.  5. 
Jnstifier.     i  Cor.  vi.  11. 
Inspirer.     2  Tim.  iii.  16. 
Author  of  our  Life.     John  iii.  5-8. 
•Quickener.     i  Peter  iii.  18. 
Searcher,     i  Cor.  ii.  10. 
Way  of  Access.     Eph.  ii.  18. 
Renewer.    Titus  iii.  5. 

SYMBOLS  OF  THE   HOLY  SPIRIT. 

Wind.     John  iii.  8. 

Fire.     Acts  ii.  3,  4. 

Fire.     Matt.  iii.  11. 

Rivers  of  Water.    John  vii.  38,  39. 

Dove.    John  i.  32. 

Oil.     I  John  ii.  20. 


THE     DWELLING    PLACE 
SPIRIT. 

John  xiv.  17. 
I  Cor.  iii.  16,  17. 
I  Cor.  vi.  19; 
Eph.  ii.  22. 


OF     THE     HOLY 


THE  SPIRIT. 

Restsnng  the  Spirit. — Refusing  to  ac- 
cept the  testimony  of  Christ,  as  Acts 
vii.  51.  53 — the  sin  of  the  unconverted. 

Grieving  the  Spirit. — ^Yielding  to  things 

forbidden,   as  Eph.  iv.  29 — the  sin   of 
the  saints. 

Quenching    the    Spirit  in    others    by 

despising  prophesyings,  i.e.,  the  Spirit 

speaking  by  others,  as  in  2  Thess.  v.  19,20. 


THE  OFFICE  OR  WORK  OF  THE 
HOLY  SPIRIT. 

To  Strive.     Gen.  vi.  3  ;  Acts  vii.  51. 

To  send  forth.  Psalm  civ.  30 ;  John 
XV.  26  ;  Gal.  iv.  6. 

To  move.     Gen.  i.  2. 

To  speak.  John  xvi.  13  ;  Acts  x.  19 ; 
Rev.  xxii.  17. 

To  guide.     John  xvi.  13. 

To  lead.     Rom.  viii.  14. 

To  help  our  infirmities.    Rom.  viii.26. 

To  testify.  Rom.  viii.  16  ;  John  xv.25. 

To  reveal.     Eph.  iii.  5. 

To  search,     i  Cor.  ii.  10. 

To  possess  a  mind.     Rom.  viii.  27. 

To  prophecy.  John  xvi.  13 ;  i  Tim.  iv.i. 

To  intercede.     Rom.  viii..  26. 

To  sanctify,     i  Cor.  vi.  ii. 

To  quicken.  John  vi.  63 ;  i  Peter 
iii.  18. 

To  be  pleased.     Acts  xv.  28. 

To  be  vexed.     Isaiah  Ixiii.  10. 

To  work  in  the  soul.      i  Cor.  xii.  11  ; 

I  Peter  i.  20 ;  Matt,  xxviii.  19 ;  2  Cor. 
xiii.  4  ;  2  Peter  i.  21. 


PERSON    AND  WORK  OF  THE 
HOLY   SPIRIT. 

I.  The  personality  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
as  revealed  {a)  in  the  Old  Testament. 
Gen.  i.  2 ;  Psalm  xxxiii.  6  ;  civ.  30  ;  Job 
xxvi.  13;  Isaiah  xxxii.  14,  15;  Ezek. 
xxxvii.  9.  [b]  In  the  New  Testament. 
Matt.  iii.  16;  xxviii.  19;  Mark  i.  10; 
Luke  iii.  22  ;  John  i.  33  ;  i  Cor.  xiii.14  ; 
Eph.  iv.  30. 


1 66 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


2.  Character  and  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit. — ^John  xiv.  16-26  ;  xvi.6.7  ;  Rom. 
viii.  26;  XV,  30;  Acts  xiii.  2.  Agent  {n) 
of  Christ's  birth. — Matt.  i.  18,  20 ;  Luke 
i.  35  ;  John  iii.  6 ;  i  John  v.  6,  8.  {/>) 
Agent  of  the  resurrection  of  Christ  and 
of  believers. — Rom.  i.  4';  viii.  11 ;  i 
Peter  iii.  18. 

From  whom  the  Spirit  proceeds. 
John  XV.  26  ;  xvi.  7-14. 

Dwelling  of  the  Spirit  in  Christ.  Luke 
iv.  I,  14;  John  iii.  34 ;  Col.  ii.  9. 

Regeneration  by  the  Spirit.  John  iii. 
3,  5 ;  iv.  10,  14 ;  vi.  63  ;  Titus  iii.  5,  7. 

Dwelling  of  the  Spirit  in  believers. 
I  Cor.  ii.  9-16;  vi.  17;  xii.13  ;  Gal.iii.9; 
iv.  6;  v.  25;  Eph.  ii,  22;  iii.i6;  v.i-18; 

1  Peter  i.  11  ;  i  John  iii.  24. 

The  Spirit  given  to  the  disciples. 
Acts  ii.  1-4;  vi.  3. 

The  Spirit  to  be  received  by  faith. 
John  vii.  37-39  ;  Luke  xi.  13 ;  Gal.  iii.  2; 
Eph.  i.  13,  14.  .       . 

Sanctification  by  the  Spirit.    Rom  .viii. 

6  ;  I  Cor.  vi.  11;  Gal.  v.  22-26 ;  2  Thess, 
ii.  13  ;  I  Peter  i.  2. 

The  Spirit  dwelling  in  the  Church. 
Rom.  viii.  9-1 1  ;  i  Cor.  iii.  16,  17;  yi. 
13-19  ;  2  Cor.  vi.  14-16  ;  Eph.  i.  22,  23  ; 
iii.  19  j  iv.  12-16;  Col,  i.  18,  24;  i  Tim. 
iii.  15  ;  Heb.  iii.  6. 

Prophesied  in  the  Old  Testament  as  a 
Gospel  blessing.  Isaiah  xxxii,  15  ;  xliv. 
3  ;  Ezek.  xxxvi.  27. 

When  the  dispensation  of  the  Spirit 
began  and  when  it  will  end.  Matt,  iii, 
II  ;  John  vii.  39  ;  xiv.   16;  xv.  26  ;  xvi. 

7  ;  XX.  22 ;  Acts  i.  8;  ii.  1-4  j  iii.  21 ;  2 
Thess.  ii.  7 ;  Rev.  iv.  5. 

Names  and  Titles  of  the  Spirit. 
Holy  Spirit  or  Holy  Ghost. — Psalm  xli. 
11;  Isaiah  Ixiii.  11  ;  Matt,  xxviii.  19; 
Mark  iii.  29  ;  Luke  xi.  13.  Spirit  of  God. 
— Gen.  i.  2  ;  Exodus  xxxi.  3  ;  Num.xxiv. 

2  ;  I  Sam.  x.  10 ;  2  Chron.  xv.  i  ;  Matt, 
iii.  16  ;  I  John  iv.  2.  My  Spirit. — Gen. 
vi.  3  ;  Prov.  i.  23  ;  Isaiah  xxx.  i  ;  Zech. 
IV.  6  ;  Matt.  xii.  28.  Spirit  of  the  Lord. 
— Num.  xi.   29 ;  Jud.    vi.    34. ,  2  Chron. 


XX.  14  ;  Acts  V.  9,  Spirit  of  Christ. — 
Rom.  viii.  9;  i  Peter  i,  11.  The  Com- 
forter.— John  xiv.  16  ;  xvi.  7.  Spirit  of 
truth. — John  xiv.  17  ;  xvi.  13,  Spirit  of 
holiness. — Rom.  i.  4.  Spirit  of  grace. 
— Zech.  xii.  10;  Heb.  x.  29.  Spirit  of 
wisdom,  might,  counsel. — Isaiah  xi.  2. 
Spirit  of  promise. — Eph.  i.  13.  Spirit 
of  glory. — I  Peter  iv.  14.     Good  Spirit ► 

— Neh.  ix.  20  ;  Psalm  cxliii.  10, 

H,  W.Brown. 


THE  HOLY  SPIRIT. 

Co-equal  with  Father  and  Son,  Gen» 
i.  2 ;  Psa.  xxxiii.  6 ;  Job,  xxvi.  13. 

Author  of  the  Word,  i  Pet.  xx.  21 ;  2 
Tim.  iii.  16 ;  i  Thess.  ii.  13. 

Author  of  the  Atonement,  Heb,  ix.  14. 

Author  of  the  Resurrection,  i  Peter 
iii.  18. 

Spiritual  knowledge,  John  xvi.  8  ;  i. 
32-33;  Rom.  viii.  15-16 ;  Jno.  iii,  5-6; 
Eph.  V.  26  ;  John  xv.  3  ;  Luke  iv.  1-2  ; 
Heb.  ii.  -17-18  ;  Rom.  viii.  26-27  ;  i  John 
V.  14  ;  Acts  xiii.  3-5  ;  Acts  xvi.  6-7  ;  Eph. 
i.  13-14.  Dr.  L,  W.  Munhall. 


WHAT  THE  COMFORTER 
SHALL  DO. 

(*'  I  will  send  him  unto  you.") 

Shall  dwell  with  you  and  be  with  yoiu 
Jno.  xiv.  17. 

Shall  teach  you  all  things,  Jno.  xiv.  26. 

Shall  bring  all  things  to  your  remem- 
brance, Jno.  xiv.  27. 

Shall  testify  of  me,  John  xv.  26. 
,  Will  guide  you  into  all  truth,  John 
xvi.  13. 

Shall  show  you  things  to  come,  John 
xvi.  13. 

Shall  glorify  me,  John  xvi.  14. 

Shall  take  of  mine  and  show  it  unto 
you.     John  xvi.  15. 


WHAT  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT  DOES. 
John  xvi.  8,  II  ;  John  iii.  5,  6  ;  John 
xiv.  26 ;  I  Cor.  xii.  8  ;  Rom.  v.  5  ;  Rom. 
XV.  13;  2  Cor.  iii.  17;  Rom.  xiv.  17; 
John  xvi.  13  ;  i  John  ii.  20 ;  2  Cor  i. 
21,  22  ;  I  John  ii.  17,  28. 


NOTES  FOR  BIBLE  READINGS. 


167 


EMBLEMS  OF  THE  HOLY 
GHOST. 

1.  Wind  or  breath,  Cant.  iv.  16  ;  Ez. 
xxxvii.  9  ;  John  iii.  8  ;  xx.  22  ;  Acts  ii.  2. 
Mysterious,  sovereign,  mighty. 

2.  Water,  Isa.  xliv,  3  ;  Ez,  xxxvi.  25  ; 
John  vii.  38,  39.  Pure,  cleansing,  re- 
freshing, fertilizing,  free. 

3.  Fire,  Matt.  iii.  11.  Penetrating, 
illuminating,  warming,  consuming. 

4.  Oil,  Isa.  Ixi.  I  ;  Heb.  i.  9.  Heal- 
ing, comforting,  consecrating. 

5.  Seal,  Eph.  i.  13  ;  iv,  30.  Authen- 
ticating, marking,  securing. 

6.  An  earnest,  Eph.  i.  14.  The  pledge 
of  future  and  full  possession. 

7.  A  dove.  Matt,  iii.  16.  Gentle, 
peaceful,  pure. 

8.  A  guide,  John  xvi.  13.  Tender, 
faithful,  unfailing. 


WHAT  IS  A  CHRISTIAN? 
(Acts  xi.  26.) 
The  word  rendered  called  in  the  text 
is  found  eight  times  elsewhere  in  the 
New  Testament,  Matt.  ii.  12,  22  ;  Luke 
ii.  26  ;  Acts  x.  22  ;  Rom.  vii.  3  ;  Heb. 
viii.  5  ;  xi.  7  ;  xii.  25.  This  indicates 
the  divine  origin  of  the  name.  It  is  con- 
nected with  the  first  missionary  work  of 
the  church.  (The  chapter  following  the 
text  is  a  parenthesis.)  See  Acts  xxvi.  28  ; 
I  Pet.  iv.  16,  ["on  this  behalf"  should 
be  "in  this  name;"  Alford]  ;  James  ii. 
7,  [worthy,  or  beautiful]  ;  Eph.  iii.  15  ; 
I  Cor.  xii.  12,]  " //^^  Christ, "  like  Gen. 
V.  2.] 

1.  In  faith  he  is  a  believer  in  Christ, 
John  i.  II,  12  ;  iii.  14-18,  36  ;  iv.  13,  14  ; 
V.  21-25  ;  vi.  28,  29,  40,  47,  50-54  ;  vii. 
37-39;  viii.  24;  ix.  35-39;  X.  7-11;  xi. 
25,  26  ;  xii.  24,  32,  44-48  ;  Acts  x:  36, 
43  ;  xiii.  39  ;  xvi.  31  ;  Rom.  iv.5,  16  ;  v. 
I  ;  Gal.  ii.  16  ;  i  John  v.  10-13. 

2.  In  relationship  he  is  a  child,  John 
i.  13  ;  iii.  3-7,  connected  with  verse  16  ; 
Rom.  viii.  3,  connected  with  verses  14- 
t^  ;  Gal.  iii.  26  ;  iv.  1-7  ;  i  John  v.  i  ; 
V.  17. 


3.  In   character   he   is   a   saint.     [The 

word  means,     "separate    from    common 

condition  and  use  ;  dedicated."]  Acts  ix. 

13  ;  xxvi.   10  ;  Rom.  i.  7  ;  viii.   i,  27  ;  i 

Cor.   i.  2;  vi.   II  ;  Eph.   iii.  8;  Heb.  ii. 

II  ;    x,    10,  14  ;    xiii.   12  ;   I    Pet.  i.    15  ; 

Lev.    xi.  44,    45  ;   xx.    24-26 ;    Matt.   v. 
14-16. 

4.  In  communion  a  friend,  John  xv. 
15  ;  XX.  17  ;  Heb.  ii.  ii,  12  ;  James  ii. 
23  ;  Gen.  xv.  6;  xviii.  17,  [communion 
is  better  than  prayer]  ;  i  John  i.  3, 
["fellowship,"  the  same  as  "partner- 
ship "  in  Luke  v.  7,  10]. 

5.  In  conflict  a  soldier,  2  Tim.  ii.  3; 
Matt.  X.  24,  25,  32-42  ;  John  xiii.  16 ; 
XV.  18-20  ;  xvi.  33  ;  xvii.  4-8  ;  i  Cor,  ix. 
24-27  ;  2  Tim.  iv.  7,  8. 

6.  In  experience  a  pilgrim,  Phil.  iii. 
20,  21  ;  Heb.  xi.  13  ;  »  Pet.  ii.  11  ;  Gal. 
vi.  14 ;  2  Cor.  v.  i. 

7.  In  expectation  an  heir,  Rom.  viii. 
17,  [joint-tenancy  for  eternity];  Gal.  iii. 
29  ;  iv.  1-7  ;  Tit.  iii.  7  ;  James  ii.  5  ; 
Matt.  xiii.  43  ;  Rev.  xx.  5,  6  ;  xxi.  3,  4. 
To  sinners.  Rev.  xxi.  6. 


WHAT  THE  CHRISTIAN  MAY 
BE.     2  Timothy  ii. 

1 .  A  son  in  the  faith,  verse  i . 

2.  A  teacher,  verse  2. 

3.  A  soldier,  verse  3. 

4.  A  labourer,  verse  6. 

5.  A  wrestler — striving  not  about 
words,  but  strive  for  mastery,  ver.  14,  15. 

6.  A  workman,  verse  15. 

7.  A  vessel,  verse  21. 

EXAMPLES. 

1.  Onesimus — A  son,  Philemon  10. 

2.  Epaphras — A  teacher.  Col.  i.  7. 

3.  Paul — A  soldier,  2  Tim.  iv.  7. 

4.  Nehemiah— A  laborer,  Neh.  iv.  21. 

5.  Jacob — A  wrestler  (Gen.  xxxii.  24) 
too  strong  in  the  flesh.  Abraham,  the 
man  of  faith,  quelling  the  strife  of  his 
servants,  Gen.  xiii.  8. 


THE  CHRISTIAN'S  STATE. 

Has  received  the  spirit  of  God,  Rom. 
viii.  9, 

Is  alive  unto  God,  Rom,  vi.  Ii. 
Is  born  of  God,  John  i.  13. 
Is  born  of  the  Spirit,  John  iii.  6. 
Is  born  again,   I  Peter  i.  22. 


i68 


NOTES  FOR  BIBLE  READINGS. 


Is  a  new  creature,  2  Cor.  v.  17. 

Old  man  put  off,  Col.  iii.  10. 

Was  in  darkness  now  in  light,  I  Pet. 
u.  9. 

Now  in  the  glorious  liberty,  Romans 
viii.  21. 

Under  no  condemnation,  Rom.  viii.  I. 

Has  peace,  Romans,  v.  i. 

Christ  living  in  Him,  Gal.  ii.  20. 

Has  everlasting  life.  Has  passed  from 
death  to  life,  John  v.  24. 

The  sting  of  death  is  taken  away,  i 
Cor.  XV.  57. 


THE  CHRISTIAN'S  BLESSED- 

.  NESS. 

Pardoned  through  Christ,  Acts  x.  43. 
Crucified  with  Christ,  Gal.  ii.  1-6. 
Risen  with  Christ,  Eph.  ii.  20. 
Accepted  in  Christ,  Eph.  i.  6,  *]. 
Blessed  in  Christ,  Eph.  i.  3. 
Complete  in  Christ,  Col.  ii.  9,  10. 
One  with  Christ,  i  Cor.  vi.  17. 
Preserved  in  Christ,  Jude  i . 
Devoted  to  Christ,  Phil.  i.  21. 
Working  for  Christ,  Phil.  ii.  16. 
Worshipping  Christ,  Rev.  v.  7?  8. 
Separated  to  Christ,  John  xvii.  16. 
Fellowship  with  Christ,  i  John  i.  3. 
Loved  by  Christ,  Eph.  v.  25 . 
Witness  for  Christ,  John  xvii.  18. 
Waiting  for  Christ,   i  Thess.  1.  9,  lO. 
Glorified  with  Christ,  John  xvii.  22-24. 
Eternally  with  Christ,  i  Thess.  iv.  17. 

THE  CHRISTIAN'S  THREE  R'S. 


A  SPIRITUAL  AND  SCRIPTURAL  GRAMMAR 
LESSON. 

The  great  business  of  life,  to  a 
Christian,  is,  to  know  and  declare  the 
character  of  God. 

To  show  how  flhe  Word  may  enable 
him  to    do    this    is    the    object   of   this 

GRAMMAR  LESSON. 

God's  name  or  character,  as  He  was 
pleased  to  reveal  it  to  Moses  was  "I  am 
that  lam." — Exodus  iii.  14.  Saying,  in 
effect,  whatever  I  am,  that  am  I  at  this 
moment — now.  Thus  all  God's  "I  am's  " 
are  true  just  now. 

The  lesson  proposed  is  simply  to 
connect  a  fragment  of  the  verb  "to  be  " 


with  three  aspects  of  Christian  character, 
Thus  : 

' '  I  AM,     )  Teach  us  we  i  Receivers. 
Thou  art,  >     are  to  be    *  Responders. 

He  IS."    )  towardsGod,  ^  Reporters. 

1.  *'I  am,"  is  God's  frequent  and 
varied  revelation  of  Himself  in  Old  or 
New  Testament :  for  instance  :  — 

I  am  the  Lord  thy  God.     Exodus  xx 

2  ;  Lev.  xix. 

I  am  the  Lord  that  healeth  thee. 
Exodus  XV.  26. 

I  am  the  Lord  which  sanctify  you. 
Lev.  XX.  8. 

I  am  thy  salvation.     Psalm  xxxv.  3. 

I  am  the  Light  of  the  world.  John  viii. 
12  ;  ix.  5. 

I  am  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the  life. 
John  xiv.  6. 

These  revelations  we  are  to  take  in^  in 
their  simple  and  full  meaning,  adding 
nothing ;  taking  nothing  away.  This 
is  ^<t  first  lesson.  When  God  says  '*I 
am,"  we  are  to  be 

RECEIVERS. 

2.  We  may  then  answer,  with  our 
lips,  to  God's  revelation  of  Himself: 
saying — 

"  Thou  art,"  where  He  has  said 
"lam." 

This  is  simple  faith ;  just  to  appro- 
priate, or  set  our  seal  to,  what  God  says, 
(Heb.  xi.  6  ;  John  iii.  33),  and  not  to 
make  Him  a  liar  (i  John  v.  10)  but  to 
reply  to  his  "I  am," 

"THOU  art." 

Thus: — Thou  art  the  Lord  my  God. 

Thou  art  the  Lord  that  healeth  me, 

etc.,  etc. 

We  are  thus  led  to  converse  with  the 
living  God,  and  are 

RESPONDERS. 

3.  There  remains  one  other  lesson,  from 

"HE  IS  "  — 

The  duty  of  telling  others  what  He  is 
— what  we  find  Him  to  be  ;  this  is  "  The 
fruit  of  lips  confessing  His  nantey  Heb. 
xiii.  15,  margin. 

This  is  the  duty  of  all  who  know  Him  ; 
and  thuSy  we  are,  to  our  God,  witnesses  or 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


169 


REPORTERS. 

Just  as  the  luoon  tells,  in  the  absence 
©f  the  visible  sun,  that  he  is  still  existing 
And  shining,  so  the  Christian  with  open 
face  (beholding  as  in  a  glass  the  glory  of 
his  Lord)  gives  out  that  light  to  others, 
«ven  the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  the 
^lory  of  God  as  seen  in  the  face  of  Jesus 
■Christ.     2  Cor.  iii.  18  ;  iv.  6. 

Thou  art  my  God,  and  I  will  praise 
thee. 

Thou  art  my  God,  and  I  will  exalt 
thee ! 

O  give  thanks  vmto  the  Lord,  for  He  is 
;good,  for  His  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
Psalm  cxviii.  28,  29. 

The  exercise  may  be  varied  by  taking 
the  passages  of  Scripture  where  "I  am," 
"Thou  art,"  "He  is,"  "God  is,"  "The 
L,ord  is,"  etc.,  occur,  and  interchanging 
them.  Thus  each  Scripture  "  Thou  art " 
■will  afford  us  an  "I  am  "  of  God  ;  and 
thus  the  experience  of  all  saints  becomes 
to  others  so  much  blessed  Revelation  of 
God ;  and  thus,  also,  becomes  the  proper- 
ty of  all.  Take,  for  example  '  *  Thou 
^rt,"  in  Neh.  ix.  or  Psalm  Ixxxvi. 

Another  thought  now  suggests  itself: — 
That  each  of  us  has  a  special  manifesta- 
tion in  our  lives  of  what  God  is,  which 
■^ve  alone  can  tell  forth  for  His  praise. 

O  Lord  open  Thou  our  lips  ;  and  our 
TOOUth  shall  show  forth  Thy  praise.  G.  S. 


COMFORTS  FOR  THE  CHRISTIAN 
TRAVELLER. 

Man's  goings  are  of  the  Lord.  Pro  v. 
XX.  24. 

Thou,  oh  Lord,  art  a  shield,  &c.  Psa. 
iii.  3. 

I  am  with  thee.     Gen.  xxviii.  15. 

I  will  never  leave  thee,  &c.     Heb.  xiii. 

S- 

Be  strong  and  of  good  courage,  &c. 
Josh.  i.  9. 

Fear  not,  neither  be  faint  hearted.  Isa. 
Tii.  4. 

There  shall  no  evil  befall  thee.  Psa. 
xci.  10,  II. 

Thy  shoes  shall  be  as  iron.  Deut. 
■xxxiii.  15. 

The  eternal  God  is  thy  refuge,  &c. 
Deut.  xxxiii.  27. 

lie  shall  cover  thee  with  His  feathers. 
Psalm  xci.  4. 

Fear  not,  I  am  thy  shield.     Gen.  xv.  i . 


THE  CHRISTL^N'S  HIDING    ♦ 
PLACE. 

1.  Where  and  how  to  get  hid.     Psa. 
cxliii.  9. 

2.  With  whom.     Ps.  xxxii.  7, 

3.  The  Word  in  us.     Ps.  cxix.  1 1. 

4.  In  thy  W^ord.     Ps.  cxix.  114. 

5.  Under  His  wings.     Ps.  xvii.  S, 

6.  The  God-man.     Isa.  xxxii.  2. 

7.  With  Christ  in  God.     Col.  iii.  3. 

S.  R.  B. 


WHAT  WE  HAVE  BY  BELIEVING 
IN  CHRIST. 

Eternal  Life — i  John  v.  11.  Forgive- 
ness of  sins — Eph.  i.  7.  Peace  with  God 
— Rom.  V.  I.  Made  new  creatures— 2 
Cor.  V.  17.  Partakers  of  the  Divine 
Nature — 2  Pet.  i.  4.  Children  and  hiMis 
of  God — Gal.  iii.  26,  and  Gal.  iv.  7.  Our 
old  man  crucified  with  Christ — Rom.  vi. 
6.  Made  free  from  the  power  of  sin — 
Rom.  vi.  4,  and  Rom.  vi.  22.  Victory 
through  Christ — i  Cor.  xv.  57,  and  i 
John  V.  4.  More  than  conquerors 
through  Him— Rom.  viii.  37.  One  with 
Christ — ^John  xvii.  21,  and  Eph.  v.  30. 
One  with  Christ  in  the  Father's  love — 
John  xvii.  23.  We  have  His  joy— John 
XV.  II.  His  peace — John  xv.  27.  His 
glory — ^John  xvii.  22.  Complete  in  Him 
— Col.  ii.  10.  As  He  is,  so  are  we  in 
this  world — i  John  iv.  17.  All  things 
are  yours — i  Cor.  iii.  21,  22.  He  that 
spared  not  His  own  Son,  but  delivered 
Him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  He  not  with 
Him,  also,  freely  give  us  all  things — 
Rom.  viii.  32. 


THE  PORTRAIT  OF  A  CHRISTIAN 
LADY. 

DRAWN   FROM  THE  WORD  OF  GOD. 

She  is  one  of  the  family  whom  Jesus 
loves — ^John  xi.  5.  She  has  had  her 
heart  "  opened,"  like  that  of  Lydia,  "to 
attend" — to  take  heed — to  .  the  Lord's 
Word.     Acts  xvi.  14, 

She  has,  through  the  Spirit,  and  by  the 
Word,  the  same  unfeigned  faith  which 
dwelt  in  Lois  and  Eunice — 2  Tim.  i,  5, 
whereby,  like  Hannah,  her  heart  rejoices 


I/O 


NOTES    ON    BIBLE    READINGS. 


in  the  Lord,  because  she  rejoices  in  His 
salvation.     I  Sam.  ii.  i  ;  Isa.  Ixi.  lo. 

She  sits  at  Jesus'  feet,  like  Mary,  to 
hear  His  word — Luke  x.  39,  and  to  have 
her  understanding  opened  to  understand 
the  Scriptures— Luke  xxiv.  45  ;  and  with 
"the  other  Mary,"  she  keeps  His  say- 
ings, and  keeps  also  all  that  is  said  con- 
cerning Him,  pondering  it  in  her  heart — 
Luke  ii.  19,  51. 

She  desires,  and  seeks,  like  Anna,  to 
serve  the  Lord  with  self-denial,  both  by 
night  and  day — Luke  ii.  36,  37  ;  aiming 
to  be  holy  both  in  spirit  and  body.  And 
she  is  ever  ready  to  speak  good  of  His 
name,  to  speak  of  Him  to  all  that  are 
looking  for  redemption-  through  Him 
alone.     Luke  ii.  36,  37  ;  i  Cor.  vii.  34. 

She  has  a  heart  to  labour  for  the  Lord, 
like  Tryphena  and  Tryphosa — Romans 
xvi.  12;  and  like  "those  women  also 
laboured  in  the  Gospel,"  and  whose 
names  are  in  the  Book  of  Life — Phil.  iv.  3. 

She  seeks  out  and  ministers  to  the 
necessities  of  the  Lord's  people,  especially 
of  the  fatherless  and  widows,  as  Dorcas 
did.     Acts  ix.  36-39  ;  Jas.  i.  27. 

She  bestows  "much  labour"  upon 
them,  as  Mary  did.     Rom.  xvi.  6. 

She  is  "a  succourer  of  many,"  and 
"  a  servant  of  the  Church, "  like  Phebe. 
Rom.  xvi.  I,  2. 

And  thus,  like  Joanna  and  Susanna, 
who  ministered  to  the  Lord  with  their 
substance,  she  ministers  to  Him  now  in 
persons  of  His  people.  Luke  viii.  3 ; 
Matt.  XXV.  40.  Such  is  she  who  is  blessed 
among  women  because  she  hath  believed  1 
Luke  i.  42-45.  Such  is  she  who  "  hath 
chosen  the  good  part  that .  shall  not  be 
taken  away  from  her !  "     Luke  x.  42. 

F.  R.  R. 


THE  CHRISTIAN'S  CALLING. 

Called  by  God.  Rom.  viii.  30 ;  2 
Thess.  ii.  14. 

Called  of  Jesus  Christ.  Rom.  i.  6  ;  i 
Peter  v.  10. 

Called  according  to  His  purpose.  Rom. 
viii.  28,  29-30 ;  2  Tim.  i.  9. 


Called  the  sons  of  God.  i  John  iii.  i; 
Gal.  iv.  6,  7. 

Called  in  one  body.     Col.  iii.  15. 

Called  to  be  saints.  Rom.  i.  7  ;  i  Cor. 
i.  2  ;  I  Thess.  iv.  7. 

Called  into  fellowship,     i  Cor.  i.  9. 

Called  into  the  grace  of  Christ.  GaL 
i.  6. 

Called  out  of  darkness  into  light,  i 
Peter  ii.  9. 

Called  in  hope.  Eph.  i.  18  ;  iv.  4 ; 
Rom.  V.  2. 

Called  to  virtue.     2  Pet.  i.  3. 
Called  by  the  Gospel.     2  Thess.  ii.  14. 
Called  to  eternal  life,     i  Tim.  vi.  12. 
Called  to  an  eternal  inheritance.     Heb. 
ix.  15  ;  I  Peter  i.  4. 

Called  to  blessing,     i  Peter  iii.  9. 
Called  to  liberty.     Gal.  v.  13. 

Called  to  peace,  i  Cor.  vii.  15  ;  CoL 
iii.  15. 

Called  to  suffer,     i  Peter  ii.  21 . 

Called  to  glory,  i  Thes.  ii.  12 ;  2 
Thes.  ii.  14  ;  i  Peter  v.  10  ;  2  Peter  i.  3. 

A  heavenly  calling.     Heb.  iii.  1. 

A  holy  calling,  i  Thes.  iv.  7  ;  2  Tim» 
i.  9. 

That  worthy  name  by  which  ye  are 
called.     Acts  xi.  26  ;  James  ii.  7. 

Ye  see  your  calling,  brethren,  i  Cor. 
i.  26. 

The  prize  of  the  high  calling.  Phil. 
iii.  14. 

Faithful  is  He  that  calleth  you.  i  Cor. 
i.  9  ;  I  Thes.  v.  24. 

Walk  worthy  of.  Eph.  iv.  i  ;  CoL  i. 
10  ;  I  Pet.  i.  15,  16  ;  2  Peter  i.  10. 


THE   BELIEVER'S   POSITION    IN 
CHRIST. 

As  many  as  received  Him  to  them  gave 
He  power  to  become  the  sons  of  God^ 
even  to  them  that  believe  on  His  name. 
John  i.  12. 

Now  in  Christ  Jesus  ye,  who  sometimes 
were  far  off,  are  made  nigh  by  the  blood 
of  Christ.     Eph.  ii.  13. 

Accepted  in  the  Beloved.     Eph.  i.  6. 

Ye  are  complete  in  Him.     Col.  ii.  10. 

There  is  therefore  now  no  condemna- 
tion to  them  which  are  in  Christ  Jesus. 
Rom.  viii.  I. 

Heirs  of  God  and  joint  heirs  with 
Christ.     Rom.  viii.  17. 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


171 


ABIDING. 

Abide  in  Me,  and  I  in  you.   John  xv.  4. 

If  ye  abide  in  Me  and  My  words  abide 
in  you,  ye  shall  ask  what  ye  will  and  it 
shall  be  done  unto  you.     John  xv.  7. 

If  ye  keep  My  commandments  ye  shall 
abide  in  my  love.     John  xv.  10. 

He  that  abideth  in  Me,  and  I  in  him, 
the  same  bringeth  forth  much  fruit.  John 
XV.  5. 

He  that  loveth  not  his  brother,  abideth 
in  death,     i  John  ill.  14. 

And  he  that  keepeth  His  command- 
ments dwelleth  in  Him,  and  He  in  him, 
and  hereby  we  know  that  He  abideth  in 
us,  by  the  Spirit  which  He  hath  given  us. 
I  John  iii.  24. 

Whosoever  transgresseth,  and  abideth 
not  in  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  hath  not 
God.  He  that  abideth  in  the  doctrine  of 
Christ,  he  hath  both  the  Father  and  the 
Son.     2  John  ix. 


THE  BELIEVER'S  WALK. 
He  that  saith  he  abideth  in  Him  ought 
himself  also    so    to    walk,  even    as    He 
walked,     i  John  ii.  6. 

As  ye  have  therefore  received  Christ 
Jesus  the  Lord,  so  walk  ye  in  Him.  Col. 
li.  6. 

I  therefore  beseech  you  that  ye  walk 
worthy  of  the  vocation  wherewith  ye  are 
called^  with  all  lowliness  and  meekness, 
with  long  suffering,  forbearing  one 
another  in  love.     Eph.  iv.  1,2. 

Walk  in  love.     Eph.  v.  2. 

See  that  ye  walk  circumspectly.  Eph. 
v.  15. 

Walk  in  the  Spirit  and  ye  shall  not 
fulfil  the  lust  of  the  flesh.     Gal.  v.  16. 


SERVICE. 

No  servant  can  serve  two  masters. 
Luke  xvi.  13. 

The  kingdom  of  God  is  not  meat  and 
drink,  but  righteousness  and  peace  and 
joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  For  he  that  in 
these  things  serveth  Christ  is  acceptable 
to  God,  and  approved  of  men.  Rom. 
xiv.   17,  18. 

By  love  serve  one  another.     Gal.  v.  13. 

Not  with  eye  service,  as  men  pleasers, 
but  as  the  servants  of  Christ,  doing  the 
«\'ill  of  God  from  the  heart.     Eph.  vi.  6. 


PROMISES  TO  BELIEVERS. 

Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto 
the  end  of  the  world.     Matt,  xxviii,  20. 

Fear  thou  not,  for  I  am  with  thee,  be 
not  dismayed  for  I  am  thy  God  ;  I  will 
strengthen  thee,  yea,  I  will  help  thee  •,. 
yea,  I  will  uphold  thee  with  the  right 
hand  of  my  righteousness.    Isaiah  xli.  10. 

He  hath  said,  I  will  never  leave  thee 
nor  forsake  thee.     Heb.  xiii,  5. 

God  is  able  to  make  all  grace  abound 
toward  you  ;  that  ye,  always  having  all 
sufficiency  in  all  things,  may  abound  to- 
every  good  work.     2  Cor.  ix.  8, 

Now  the  God  of  peace  that  brought 
again  from  the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus, 
that  Great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep, 
through  the  blood  of  the  everlasting 
covenant,  make  you  perfect  in  every 
good  work  to  do  His  will,  working  in. 
you  that  which  is  well-pleasing  in  His 
sight  through  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  be 
glory  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen.  Heb.. 
xiii.  20,21. 


THE    STANDING    AND    DUTIES 
OF  BELIEVERS. 

I  Thess.  V.  8. 

1.  They  are  children  "of  the  day."" 
(i)  They  walk  in  the  light,  vrs.  4-7,  r 
John  i.  6-8,  as  He  is  in  the  light,  Eph.  v. 
1-15,  avoiding  thus  the  works  of  dark- 
ness, Eph.  iv.  17-24,  and  following  Him. 
who  is  the  world's  only  light,  John  viii^ 
12,  and  xii.  35,  36.  (2)  They  wait  for 
the  day,  Rom.  xiii.  12-14  ;  Heb.  x.  25  ; 
Psalm  XXX.  5  ;  Mai.  iv.  2  ;  Psalm  cxxx^ 
5,6. 

2.  They  stand  prepared. — Be  sober  ; 
or,  as  in  verse  6.  They  watch  and  are 
sober,  not  sleeping  as  others  do,  vrs.  6,. 
7  ;  Matt..  XXV.  5  ;  Eph.  v.  14,  not  care- 
less, 2  Peter  iii.  4,  but  sober  ;  i  Cor- 
ix.  24-27  ;  Eph.  v.  18  ;  and  watchful,. 
Mark  xiii.  33-37  ;   watchful   against  sin, 

1  Peter  iv.  1-5  ;  v.  8  ;  watching  for  His^ 
coming,  Titus  ii.  13,  14 ;  i  Thess.  i.  10  ; 

2  Thess.  i.  10  ;  iii.  5. 


f72 


NOTES  FOR  BIBLE  READINGS. 


3.  The  power  of  their  preparation, 
putting  on  the  breast  plate  of  faith  and 
love,  and  for  an  hehnet,  the  hope  of 
salvation. — The  breastplate,  because  we 
are  still  warring  and  need  it ;  i  Tim. 
vi.  12  ;  2  Cor.  x.  4 ;  of  faith  in  Ilis  sal- 
vation, Isaiah  i.  18  ;  i  Peter  ii.  24  ;  of 
faith  in  Himself,,  Isaiah  xxvi.  3,  4  ;  Col. 
i.  27  ;  of  love  to  Him,  Rev.  i.  4,  5  ;  i 
Peter  i.  8  ;  of  love  to  all  for  His  sake,  2 
Cor.  V.  14,  15,  and  as  our  helmet  the 
hope  of  salvation,  Heb.  vi.  18-20,  sure 
and  certain,  for  already  within  the  veil, 
Rom.  V.  5  ;  John  xvii.  24  ;  i  John  iii.  2,  3. 


THE     MEASURE     OF     THE     BE- 
LIEVER'S  BLESSINGS. 
"Not  according  to  our  works." 
We  have  been  predestinated  according 
to  the  good  pleasure  of  His  will.  Eph.  i.  5. 
Called    according    to    His     purpose. 
Rom.  viii.  28. 

Saved  according  to  His  mercy.     Titus 

iii.  5- 

Forgiven  according  to  the  riches  of 
His  grace.     Eph.  i.  7. 

We  are  blessed  according  as  He  hath 
chosen  us.     Eph.  i.  3,  4. 

Strengthened  according  to  His  glori- 
ous power.     Col.  i.  II. 

Supplied  according  to  His  riches  in 
glory.     Phil.  iv.  19. 

We  shall  be  fashioned  like  unto  His 
glorious  body,  according  to  the  working 
whereby  He  is  able  even  to  subdue  all 
things  unto  Himself.     Phil.  iii.  21. 

THE    BELIEVER'S   LIFE   IN    ALL 
THINGS. 
By  Him  all  which  believe  are  justified 
from  all  things.     Acts  xiii.  39. 

PROMISES   IN  ALL   THINGS. 

All  things  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask 
in  prayer,  believing,  ye  shall  receive. 
Matt.  xxi.  22. 

:    All    things   are    possible    to   him  that 
believeth.     Mark  ix.  23. 

Pie  that  overcometh  shall  inherit  all 
things.     Rev.  xxi.  7. 


POSSESSIONS    IN    ALL  THINGS. 

His  Divine  power  hath  given  unto 
us  all  things  that  pertain  unto  life  and 
godliness.     2  Peter  i.  3. 

All  things  are  yours,     i  Cor.  iii.  21. 

The  living  God  giveth  us  richly  all 
things  to  enjoy.     I  Tim.  vi.  17. 

All  things  are  for  your  sakes.  2  Cor. 
iv.  15. 

God  is  able  to  make  all  grace  abound 
toward  you,  that  ye  always  having  all 
sufficiency  in  all  things  may  abound 
unto  every  good  work.     2  Cor.  ix.  8. 

He  that  spared  not  His  own  Son,  but 
delivered  Him  up  for  us  all ;  how  shall 
He  not  with  Him  also  freely  give  us  all 
things.     Rom.  viii.  32. 

Even  as  the  green  herb  have  I  given 
you  all  things.     Gen.  ix.  3. 

God  giveth  to  all,  life  and  breath  and 
all  things.     Acts  xvii.  25. 

TEACHING     OF    THE    BELIEVER     IN     ALL 
THINGS. 

Ye  have  an  unction  from  the  Holy 
One,  and  ye  know  all  things,  i  John  ii.  20. 

We  know  that  all  things  work  to- 
gether for  good  to  them  that  love  God. 
Rom.  viii.  28. 

The  Holy  Ghost.     He  shall  teach  you 

all  things,  and  bring  all  things  to  your 

remembrance.  John  xiv.  26.  (All  things, 

limited  by  the  words,  whatsoever  I  have 

said  unto  you.) 

The  same  anointing  teacheth  you  of 
all  things,     i  John  ii.  27. 

God   hath  revealed   them  unto  us  by 

His  Spirit,   for  the  Spirit  searcheth    all 

things,  yea,  the  deep  things  of  God.     i 

Cor.  ii.  10. 

In  all  things  I  am  instructed  both  to 
be  full  and  to  be  hungry.  I  can  do 
all  things  through  (in)  Christ  which 
strengtheneth  me.     Phil.  iv.  12,  13. 

The  Lord  give  thee  understanding  in 
all  things.     2  Tim.  ii.  7. 

They  that  seek  the  Lord  understand 
all  things.     Prov.  xxviii.  8. 

EXHORTATIONS   IN   ALL  THINGS. 

Watch  thou  in  all  things.    2  Tim.  iv.  5. 
Do    all     things     without    murmurings 
and  disputings.     Phil,  ii.  14. 

But   rather  give   alms  of  such  things 


NOTES   FOR   BIBLE   READINGS. 


175 


as  ye  have  ;  and  behold  all  things  are 
clean  unio  you.     Luke  ii,  41. 

Godliness  is  profitable  unto  all  things. 
I  Tim.  iv.  8. 

Let  all  things  be  done  unto  edifying. 
I  Cor.  xiv.  26. 

Let  all  things  be  done  decently  and 
in  order,     i  Cor.  xiv.  40. 

Giving  thanks  always  for  all  things 
unto  God  ....  in  the  name  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.     Eph.  v.  20. 

Charity  beareth  all  things,  believeth 
all  things,  hopeth  all  things,  endureth 
all  things.     I  Cor.  xiii.  7. 

Above  all  things  have  fervent  charity 
among  yourselves,     i  Peter  iv.  8. 

That  they  may  adorn  the  doctrine  of 
God  our  Saviour  in  all  things.  Tit.  ii.  10. 

Teaching  them  to  observe  all  things 
whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you. 
Matt,  xxviii.  20. 

That  God  in  all  things  may  be  glori- 
fied through  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  be 
praise  and  dominion  for  ever  and  ever. 
Amen,     i  Peter  iv.  11. 


RICHES  IN  GLORY. 

Believers  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
have  present  joy  and  peace  arising 
from  a  sense  of  forgiveness  of  sins. 
Even  on  earth  they  have  sweet  foretastes 
of  the  happiness  of  Heaven — precious 
earnests  of  treasures  to  be  enjoyed  here- 
after. They  may  not  possess  much 
treasure  on  earth,  but  their  riches  as 
well  as  their  relationships  in  Heaven  are 
glorious  beyond  description. 

The  following  are  some  of  these 
inestimable  blessings : — 

They  have  a  sure  hope  in  Heaven. 
Heb.  vi.  ig  ;  Col.  i.  5. 

A  Saviour  in  Heaven,  i  Peter  iii.  22  ; 
Phil.  iii.  20. 

Their  life  is  in  Heaven  hidden  .  with 
Christ  in  God.      Col.  iii.  1-3  ;  Eph.  ii.  6. 

Their  citizenship,  and  therefore  their 
comersation,  is  in  Heaven.     Phil.  iii.  20. 

They  have  a  great  High  Priest  in 
Heaven.     Heb.  iv.  14. 


And  an  incorruptible  inheritance  in 
Heaven,  kept  for  them  and  they  for  it, 
verses  4  and  5.     i  Peter  i.  4. 

Their  names  are  written  in  Heaven. 
Luke  X.  20. 

They  lay  up  treasure  in  Heaven. 
Matt.  vi.  20. 

Their  hearfs  affections  are  in  Heaven. 
Matt.  vi.  21  ;  Col.  iii.  2. 

They  have  a  Master  in  Heaven.  CoL 
iv.  I. 

Who  will  give  a  good  reward  in 
Heaven  for  service  on  earth.    Matt.  v.  12. 

Chief  of  all,  they  have  a  Father  in 
Heaven,  who  will  soon  welcome  home 
the  whole  of  His  redeemed  children. 
Matt.  V.  16;  John  xx.  17;  Rom.  viii.  14-15. 

Now  unto  Him  that  is  able  to  keep 
you  from  falling,  and  to  present  you 
faultless  before  the  presence  of  His  glory 
with  exceeding  joy,  to  the  only  wise 
God  our  Saviour,  be  glory  and  majesty, 
dominion  and  power,  both  now  and 
ever.     Amen.    Jude  24,  25. 


THE  LIFE  OF  THE  BELIEVER. 

Because  I  live,  ye  shall  live  also. 
John  xiv.  19. 

He  that  eateth  Me,  even  he  shall  live 
by  Me.    John  vi.  57. 

I  live  ;  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in 
me.     Gal.  ii.  20. 

Called  unto  the  fellowship  of  His  Son 
Jesus  Christ,     i  Cor.  i.  9. 

God  .  .  .  hath  quickened  us  together 
with  Christ.     Eph.  ii.  5. 

We  walk  by  faith,  not  by  sight.  2 
Cor.  V.  7. 

Ye  are  dead,  and  your  life  is  hid  with 
Christ  in  God.     Col.  iii.  3. 

He  that  believeth  on  Me  hath  ever- 
lasting life.    John  vi.  47. 

If  we  live  in  the  Spirit,  let  us  also 
walk  in  the  Spirit.     Gal.  v.  25. 

Sorrowful,  yet  always  rejoicing.  2 
Cor.  vi.  10. 

Always  bearing  about  in  the  body  the 
dying  of  the  Lord  Jesus.     2  Cor.  iv.  10. 

For  me  to  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die  is 
gain.     Phil.  i.  21. 

To  be  spiritually  minded  is  life  and 
peace.     Rom.  viii.  6. 

Our  fellowship  is  with  the  Father  and 
with  His  Son.     i  John  i.  3. 


S74 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


If   any   man  will  come   after  Me,  let 

him  deny  himself.     Matt.  xvi.  24. 

Ye  are  complete  in  Him.     Col.  ii.  10. 

We  also  should  walk  in  newness  of 
.life.     Rom.  vi.  4. 

I  give  unto  them  eternal  life,  and  they 
-shall  never  perish.    John  x.  28. 

For  we  are  made  partakers  of  Christ. 
Hob.  iii.  14. 

Partakers  of  the  divine  nature.  2  Peter 
i.  4. 

When  I  am  weak,  then  am  I  strong. 
.2  Cor.  xii.  10. 

Alive  unto  God  through  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord.     Rom.  vi.  11. 

Risen  with  Christ,  seek  those  things 
which  are  above.     Col.  ii.  3. 

I  will  walk  before  the  Lord  in  the  land 
of  the  living.     Psalm  cxvi.  9. 

Holy  brethren,  partakers  of  the 
heavenly  calling.     Heb.  iii.  i, 

God  hath  from  the  beginning  chosen 
you  to  salvation.     2  Thess.  ii.  13. 

Whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  in  Me 
.shall  never  die.     John  xi.  26. 

I  live  by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God, 
•who  loved  me.     Gal.  ii.  20, 

None  of  us  liveth  to  himself.      Rom. 

:xiv.    7. 

Whether  we  live  therefore,  or  die,  we 
.are  the  Lord's.     Rom  xiv.  8. 


ATTITUDES  OF  THE  BELIEVER. 

Leaning.      John    xiii.   23. 

Lying  down.     Psalm  xxiii.  2. 

Sitting.     Luke  viii.  35  ;  Deut.xxxiii.3. 

Standing.     Eph.  vi.  13;  Phil.  iv.  i. 

Walking.     Eph.  ii.  10 ;  Gal.  v.  25. 

Running,     i  Cor.  ix.  24 ;  Heb.  xii.  i . 

Mounting  up.  Isaiah  xl.  31  ;  i  Thess. 
iv.   17. 

THE  BELIEVER'S  CALLING. 

It  is  a  high  calling,  Phil.  iii.  14. 

It  is  a  holy  calling,  2  Tim.  i.  9. 

It  is  a  heavenly  calling,  Heb.  iii.  i. 

It  is  God  who  hath  called  us,  2  Tim. 
i.  9. 

It  is  not  according  to  our  works,  2 
Tim.  i.  9  ;  Rom.  viii.  28. 

It  is  in  and  by  Christ  Jesus,  Phil.  iii. 
14  ;  1  Pet.  v.  10. 

It  is  a  calling  independent  of  all 
worldly  honor  and  distinctions,  i  Cor* 
Kxvi.  28. 


We  are  called  to  be  saints,  Rom.  i.  7 ; 
I  Cor.  i.  2  ;  i  Thess.  iv.  7. 

We  are  called  to  follow  Christ's  steps, 
I  Peter  ii,  21. 

We  are  called  to  exhibit  (now)  all  love, 
forgiveness,  and  Christian  graces,  Eph. 
iv.  1-3  ;  I  Peter  iii.  8,  9. 

We  are  called  to  liberty.  Gal.  v.  13. 

We  are  called  to  glory  and  virtue^  2 

Peter  i.  5. 

We  are  called  to  be  with  Christ,  Rev. 
xvii.  14. 

We  are  called  unto  the  fellowship  of 
Jesus,  I  Cor.  i.  9. 

We  are  called  unto  God's  marvellous 
light,  I  Peter  ii.  9. 

We  are  called  to  eternal  life,  i  Tim. 

vi.  12. 

We  are  called  to  an  eternal  inherit- 
ance, Heb.  ix.  13. 

We  are  called  to  the  obtaining  of  the 
glory  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  2  Thess, 
ii.  14 ;  Rom.  viii.  30. 

God  hath  called  us  unto  his  kingdom 
and  glory,  i  Thess.  ii,  12;  i  Pet.  v.  10. 

The    believer  prays   to    be    counted 

worthy  of  this  calling;    to  realize   his 
high  calling,  Eph.  i.  18. 

It  sits  before  us  a  prize  to  press  for- 
ward unto,  Phil.  iii.  14. 

We  should  seek  to  walk  worthy  this 

calling  wherewith  we  are  called,  Eph. 

iv.  I     I  Thess.  ii.  12. 

We  should  give  diligence  to  make  our 
calling  and  election  sure,  2  Pet.  i.  11. 

Faithful  is  He  that  calleth  you  who 
also  will  do  it,  i  Thess.  v.  24. 


THE    PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF 
THE  CHILDREN  OF  GOD. 
(Eph.  ii.) 
I.  Dead  in  trespasses  and   sins.     Ver. 

1 .  Dead  to  God — hears  not  God's  voice, 
feels  not  His  love,  sees  not  his  beauty. 
Psa.   xxviii.   i  ;  Psa.  cxliii.  7  ;  Isa.   liii. 

2,  3  ;  Luke  xv,  24,  32  ;  Col,  ii.  13. 

2..  Walking  according  to  the  course  of 
this  world.  Ver,  2.  The  sinner,  dead 
to  God,  is  yet  alive  and  full  of  activities, 
ever  going  about.  Rom.  iii.  12-16  ;  x. 
3  ;  Gal.  V.  19-21  ;  i  John  ii.  15-17  ;  v. 
19  ;  James  iv.  i.. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


175 


3.  Walking  according  to  the  prince  of  ' 
the  power  of  the  air.  Verse  2.  World 
and  devil  going  same  way.  (2  Cor.  iv.  4; 
John  xiv.  30;  Luke  iv.  5,  6,)  until  the 
fulfilment  of  Matt.  vi.  10;  Rev,  xi.  15, 
17;  xii.  10  ;  Micah  iv.  8.  Contrast 
last  clause  verse  2  (Eph.  ii.)  with  Phil, 
ii.  13. 

4.  Among  whom  {i.  e.  children  of  dis- 
obedience) we  all  had  our  conversation  in 
times  past.  Ver.  3.  Fellowship  with  the 
children  of  disobedience,  a  thing  of  the 
past  to  the  children  of  God.  i  Peter  iv. 
2,  3;  2  Cor.  vi.  14-18;  Gal.  i.  4. 

5.  In  the  lusts  of  our  flesh.  Verse  3. 
A  comparison  of  this  with  verse  2  shows 
that  the  world,  the  devil,  and  the  flesh, 
are  a  threefold  cord.  See  also  why  the 
Lord  calls  Peter  "  Satan."   Matt.  xvi.  23. 

6.  Fulfilling  the  desires  of  the  flesh  and 
of  the  mind.  Verse  3.  Sensuality  and 
intellectuality  may  be  simply  on  ooposite 
sides  of  the  broad  road. 

7.  By  nature  the  children  of  wrath, 
even  as  others.  Ver.  3.  Wrath  is  not 
only  deserved,  but  inherited:  the  sinner's 
birthright.    John  iii.  36  ;  Rom.  v.  14, 19. 

8.  Wherefore  remember,  that  ye  being 
in  time  past  Gentiles.  Ver.  i  t  Gentil- 
ism  a  thing  of  the  past,  i  Cor.  x.  32  ; 
xii.  2  ;  Col.  iii.  1 1  Matt.  xv.  26  j  Phil, 
iii.  2. 

9.  Uncircumcision.  Ver.  ii.  Expres- 
sive of  the  unjudged  condition  of  the  na- 
tural man.  i  Sam.  xvii.  26,  36  Col.  ii. 
II,  13  ;  Ezek.  xxxii.  21,  32. 

10.  Without  Christ.  Ver.  12.  Isa. 
iiii.  3  ;  John  i.  10  ;  Luke  xxiii.  18. 

11.  Aliens  from  the  commonwealth  of 
Israel.  Ver.  12,  No  national  blessing 
like  Israel.  Deut.  xxxiii.  29  ;  Ezek  xiii. 
9  ;  John  x,  16. 

12.  Strangers  from  the  covenants  of 
promise.  Ver.  12.  No  national  pro- 
mise like  Israel.     Rom.  ix.  4,  8. 

13.  No  hope.  No  national:  hope  like 
Israel.  Luke  ii.  25  ;  Acts  xxviii.  20. 
Hope    a    brin^ht    and    sure  expectation. 


14.  Vv''ithout  God  (ver  12).    A  creature 

lost  to  its  Creator,  Psa.  xiv.  i  ;  Job.  xxi. 
14;  Jude  13. 

15.  Afar  off,  (ver.  17),  Luke  xv.  20  ; 
Isa.  vii.    19 ;  Zech.   ix.  10 ;  Acts  ii.  39. 

16.  Strangers  and  foreigners,  (ver,  19), 
Isa.  Ii.  I. 

17.  Loved  in  this  condition   with    a 

great  love,  (ver.  4  and  first  clause  of  ver. 

5),  Ezek.  xvi.  6  ;  Luke  xv.  20  ;  Titus  iii. 

4  ;    Rom.  V.  8  ;   John  iii.  16;    Rev.  i.  5  ; 

"  loved  and  washed,"  not  "washed  and 
loved." 

18.  Quickened,  (ver.  5),  Ezek.  xvi.  6  ; 
xxxvii.  3-10  ;  John  v.  24,  25 ;  xi.  25 ; 
Col.  ii.  13. 

19.  Raised,  (ver.  6),  Col.  ii.  12  ;  iii. 
I ;  I  Sam.  ii.  8. 

20.  Seated  in  heavenly  places,  (ver. 
6),  Eph.  i.  20  ;  i  Cor.  xv.  48. 

21.  In  Christ  Jesus,  (ver.  6),  Rom.  vi. 
11-23;  viii-  I.  39;  Eph.  i.  i,  3,  4,  6,  7, 
10;  ii.  10,  13,  15,  21,  22;  iv.  15;  Phil,  i, 
I ;  Col.  i,  2;  ii.  6,  11,  etc. 

22.  Vessels  for  the  display  of  the  ex- 
ceeding riches  of  God's  grace  in  ages  to 
come,  (ver.  7).  Rom,  viii.  17,  18 ;  ix.  23  ; 
2  Thess.  i.  10. 

23.  God's  worknlanship,  (ver.  10),  Ps. 

xix.  I  ;  c.  3  (tj-pical)  ;  cxix.  73  ;  cxxxix. 
14-16. 

24.  Made  nigh  by  the  blood  of  Christ, 
(ver.  13),  Heb.  x.  19. 

25.  Having  access  through  the  Son, 
by  the  Spirit,  to  the  Father,  (ver.  18), 
John  xiv.  6;  Rom.  v.  2  ;  Eph.  iii.  12  ; 
I  Peter  iii.  18  ;  contrast  to  the  trinity  of 
ver.  2,  3. 

26.  Fellow-citizens  with  the  saints, 
(ver.  19),  Phil.  iii.  20,  (Gr.)  ;  Heb.  xii. 
22,  23. 

27.  The  household  of  God,  (ver.  19), 
Gal.  vi.  10;  Eph.  iii.  15.  The  master 
washes  the  feet  of  the  servants,  John  xiii. 

28.  An  holy  temple,  (ver.  21).  The 
house  of  God  now  on  earth  to  be  filled 
with  the  sacrifice  of  praise  continually^ 
I  Tim.  iii,  15  ;  i  Pet.  2,  5. 

29.  An  habitation  of  God  through 
the  Spirit,  (ver.  22),  i  Cor.  iii.  16  ;  vi. 
1}  :  contrast  Rev.  xviii.  2. 


lyt) 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


30.  What  manner  of  persons  ought 
ye  to  be  in  all  holy  conversation  and 
godliness,  2  Pel.  iii.  11  ;  Eph.  iv.  12; 
Rom.  xii.  i ;  Phil.  iv.  i  ;  Eph.  v.  8. 

31.  Henceforth  let  us  live  not  unto 

ourselves,  but  unto  Him  who  died  for 
us,  and  rose  again,  2  Cor,  v.  15. 


THE      BELIEVER'S     FUTURE 
TREASURE  AND  REWARD. 

Matt.  vi.  20  ;  2  Peter  i.  ii  ;  i  Cor,  iii. 

14 :  2  John  viii ;  Matt.  xxv.  34  ;  2  Tim. 

iv.  8  ;  Psalm  cxviii.  8  ;  Isaiah   xvii.  7  ; 

I  Tim.  vi.  19  ;  Luke  xvi.  9  ;  Dan.  xii.  3; 

Heb.  xi.  40;  Eph,    i.  18  ;  John    xiv.  2  ; 

Psalm  xvi.  11  ;  Isaiah  xvii,  5,  6;  Isaiah 
ii.'22. 


A  GIFT  TO    BELIEVERS. 

Unspeakable  gift.     2  Cor,  ix.  15, 

His  Son.     John  iii,  16. 

Eternal  life  through  Jesus  Christ,  etc, 
Rom.  vi.  23. 

A  witness,  a  leader  and  commander. 
Isaiah  Iv.  4. 

Eternal  life  and  they  shall  never  perish. 
Tohn  X.  28. 


THE     SAINT'S     PORTION     AND 
INHERITANCE. 

The  Lord  their  portion.  Psalm  xvi. 
5;    Ixxvii.  26;  Rom.  viii.  17. 

God's  testimonies.     Psalm  cxix.  11 1. 

The  earth.    Matt,v.5;  Psalm  xxxvii.  11. 

Salvation,  gltjry.    Heb.i.14;  Pro.iii,35. 

Everlasting  life.     Matt,  xix.  29, 

Kingdom  prepared.     Matt.  xxv.  34. 

A  blessing,     i  Peter  iii.  9. 

All  things.  I  Cor,  iii.  21,  22  ;  Rev, 
Kxi.   7. 

Is  in  Christ.     Eph.  i.  11, 

Eternal.    Heb.ix.15  ;  Psalm  xxxvii.  18. 

Incorruptible,     i  Peter  i.  4. 

THE  FUTURE  OF  THE 
BELIEVER. 

We  shall  be ... .  changed,  i  Cor.  xv. 
51.  52. 

We  shall  be. .  ..glorified,  Romans 
viii.  17. 

We  shall  be, . .  .like  Him.  i  John  iii, 2. 

We  shall  be.... with  Him.  2  Tim. 
li.  12. 

We  shall. . .  .see  Him  as  He  is.  i 
lohn  iii.  2. 

Face  to  face,     i  Cor.  xiii.  12. 

In  His  beauty.     Isaiah  xxxiii.  17, 

Altogether  lovely.     Song  v.  16. 


THE  CHRISTIAN  ARMOUR. 

Put  on  the  whole  armour  of  God. 
Eph.  vi.  11-13. 

Put  on  the  armour  of  light.  Romans 
xiii.  12. 

Armour  of  righteousness.  2  Cor.  vi.  7. 

Breastplate  of  righteousness.     Eph 
vi.  14. 

Helmet  of  salvation.  Eph.  vi.  17 ;  i 
Thess.  V.  8  ;  Isaiah  Hx.  17. 

Feet  shod  with  the  gospel  of  peace. 
Eph.  vi.  15;  Isaiah  Hi.  7;  Nah.  i.   15. 

Peace  I  leave  with  you,  &c.  John 
xiv.  27. 

Shield  of  faith.     Eph.  vi.  16. 

Fear  not,  I  am  thy  shield,  &c.     Gen,. 

XV.   I. 

He  is  our  help  and  our  shield.  Psalm 
xxxiii.  20. 

His  truth  shall  be  thy  shield.  Psalm, 
xci.  4  ;  XXXV.  2. 

He  is  a  shield.     Prov.  xxx.  5. 

Sword  of  the  Spirit,  the  Word  of  God. 
Eph.  vi.  17. 

Sword  of  the  Spirit,  in  His  quiver. 
Isaiah  xlix.  2. 

Sharp  two  edged  sword.     Rev.  i.  16. 

Sharp  sword  with  two  edges.  Rev., 
ii,  12. 

W^ord  of  God,  quick  and  powerful.. 
Heb.  iv.  12. 

Hour  of  my  salvation,  &c.  Ps,  xviii.  2. 

Prayer.     Eph,  vi.  18. 

Watch  and  pray.      Matt.    xxvi.   41  ;. 

Mark  xiii.  33 ;  xiv.  38. 

Christ's  example.  Mark  i.  35  ;  Luk& 
xviii.  I. 

Pharisee  and  Publican.  Luke  xviii,  t  i  . 

Patient  waiting  for  Christ.  2Thes.iii.5. 

Jehovah  Nissi.  The  Lord  my  banner. 
Ex.  xvii.  15. 

His  banner  over  me  was  love. 
Cant.  ii.  -4. 

God  is  love,     i  John  iv.  16. 

Instances  of  faith.     Heb.  xi. 

I  have  kept  the  faith.     2  Tim.  iv.  7. 

Fight  the  good  fight  of  faith,  i  Tim. 
vi.  12. 

War  a  good  warfare,  i  Tim.  i.  18 ; 
Psalm  liv. 

As  a  good  soldier.     2  Tim.  ii.  3. 

God  which  giveth  us  the  victory,  i 
Cor.  XV.  57. 

Encouragements  to  those  who  over- 
come.    I  John  V.  4;  Rev.  ii,  7,  11.   17, 

26  ;  Rev.    iii.   5,   12,   21 ;  Rev,   xii.   10  ; 
Rev.  xxi.  7. 


NOTES  FOR  BIBLE  READINGS. 


177 


THE  BELIEVER'S  STANDING. 
Phil.   i.   6;    Phil.   iv.    19;    Jude    24; 
Rom.  xiv.  4  ;  Rom.  viii.  39  ;  2  Tim.  i.  12; 

1  Peter  i.  5. 

ESTABLISHED. 

By  faith. — 2  Chron.  xx.  20  ;  Isaiah 
vii.  9  ;  Rom.  iv.  5  ;  John  vi.  28,  29  ; 
Rom.  V.  I,  3. 

By  whom. — 2  Cor.  21,  22  ;  Eph.  ii.  4, 
10  ;  Rom.  xvi.  25-27. 

On  what  foundation. — Psalm  xl.  1-4 ; 
Eph.  ii.  19,  20  ;  i  Cor.  iii.  11. 

In  a  way  of  safety  and  power. — Psalm 
xxxvii.  23,  24  ;  Psalm  cxxi  ;  Isaiah  xli. 
10,  13  ;  Rom.  viii.  35-39  ;  2  Chron.  xxvii. 
6,  margin. 

In  the  faith. — Col.  ii.  6,  7  ;  John  vii. 
16,  17  ;  Acts  xvi.  4,  5  ;  Acts  xvii.  11  ; 
Acts  xiv.  22  ;  2  Cor.  xiii.  5  ;  i  Cor.  xvi. 
13  ;  Eph.  iv.  5,  13,  14,  15  ;  I  Peter  iii.  15; 

2  Tim.  iv.  6,  7,  8  ;  Rom.  i.  16. 

In  holiness. — Deut.  xxviii.  9  ;  Eph.  i, 
3,  4  ;  I  Peter  ii.  9  ;  i  Thess.  iii.  12,  13  ; 
I  Peter  i.  13-19 ;  2  Cor.  vi.  16,  17,  18. 

In  grape. — Heb.  xiii.  9  ;  Rom.  iii.  24  ; 
Rom.  V.  1-2  ;  Rom.  vi.  14  ;  Titus  ii.  11 
to  14;  2  Peter  iii.  17,  18  ;  Eph.  iii.  14 
to  21. 

In  every  good  word  and  work. — 2 
Thess.  ii.  16,  17  ;  2  Cor.  ix.  8  ;  John  ix. 
4;  I  Peter  v.  6-11.  S.  R.  B. 


PLEASING  THE  LORD. 

Praise,  this  also  shall  please,  Psalm 
Ixix.  31. 

God  is  well  pleased,  Heb.  xiii.  16,  21. 

Those  things  that  please  Him,  John 
viii.  29. 

The  good  pleasure,  etc,  2  Thess.  i.  1 1 . 

Those  things  that  please  Me,  Isaiah 
Ixi.  4. 

It  is  pleasant,  Psa.  cxlvii.  i,  11. 

To  please  God,  etc.,  i  Thess.  iv.  i. 

Please  Him,  etc.,  2  Tim.  ii.  4. 

Unto  all  pleasing.  Col.  i.  10. 

Man's  ways  please,  etc.,  Prov.  xvi.  7. 

Well-pleasing  to  God,  Phil.  iv.  8. 

Father's  good  pleasure,  Luke  xii.  32. 

Pleasing  in  his  sight,  i  John  iii.  22. 

Without  faith  it  is  impossible  to  please 
God,  Heb.  xi.  5. 

It  is  pleasant,  Psa.  cxxxv.  3. 


BE  YE  FOLLOWERS  OF  GOD. 
Ephesians  v.  I . 

In  holiness,  i  Pet.  i.  15,  16 ;  Lev. 
xix.  2. 

In  love,  I  John  iv.  2  ;  Matt.  v.  44,  45  ; 
Eph.  v.  2. 

In  being  perfect,  Matt.  v.  48. 

In  being  merciful,  Luke  vi.  36 ;  Eph. 
iv.  32. 

Illustrations  : — 

Caleb,  Num.  xiv.  24. 

David,  I  Kings  xiv.  8. 

Christ  says  "follow  me,"  John  xxi. 
19;  x.  27. 

In  what  are  we  to  follow  Jesus  ? 
In  doing  His  Father's  will,  John  iv. 
34  ;  V.  30  ;  vi.  38. 

In  going  about  doing  good,  Acts  x.  38. 

In  taking  up  the  cross,  Matt.  x.  38 ; 
xvi.  34  ;  Luke  xiv.  27. 

We  must  not  follow  afar  oflF  like  Peter, 
Luke  xxii.  54. 

We  must  be  willing  to  leave  all  to 
follow  Him,  Matt.  ix.  20 ;  Mark  i.  18  ; 
Luke  V.  II  ;  xiv.  33. 

Promises  to  following  Him  : — 

Shall  not  walk  in  darkness,  Mark  x. 
28,  29,  30  ;  Luke  xviii.  28,  29,  30. 

Shall  be  fishers  of  men.  Matt.  iv.  19. 

Shall  sit  upon  thrones,  etc.,  Matt. 
xix.  28. 


WHAT     IS     GIVEN    TO     THE 

BELIEVER  AND  HE  THAT 

OVERCOMETH. 

A  new  name.     Rev.  ii.  17. 

The  morning  star.     Rev.  ii.  28. 

The  white  robe.     Rev.  vi.  11. 

A  new  song.     Rev.  v.  9  ;  Rev.  xiv.  3^ 

Crown  of  life.     Rev.  ii.  lo. 

Palms.     Rev.  vii.  9. 

Living  fountains  of  water.  Rev.. 
vii.  17. 

Salvation.     Isaiah  Ixi.  10. 

Strength.     Psalm  xviii.  32. 

Joy.     Rom.  xv.  13. 

Wisdom,  sanctification,  righteousness,, 
redemption.     I  Cor.  i.  30. 

Power  over  all  nations.     Rev.  ii.  26. 

Mansion  in  the  Father's  house 
John  xiv.  2. 

Eternal  life.     John  x.  28. 

Seal  in  the  foreliead.     Rev.  vii.  3. 

A  seat  on  the  throne.     Rev.  iii.  21. 

Bread  of  life.  John  vi.  35. 

Victory,     i  Cor.  xv.  57. 

Peace.    John  xiv.  27. 


I7S 


NOTLS  roii  i::ble  readings. 


CHOOSE  THE  THINGS  THAT 
PLEASE  ME.     Isa.  Ivi.  4. 

I  Thess.  ii.  4 ;  Col.  i.  9,  10  ;    John  xi. 

12 ;  Rom.  viii.  8  ;  Gen.  v.  24  ;  i  Thess. 

iv.  I  ;  John  viii.  29  ;  i  John  iii.  22;  Heb. 
xi.  6 ;  xi.  5  ;  Prov.  xvi.  7. 


THE    BELIEVER'S     PEACE    OF 
HEART. 

John  xiv.  27  ;  John  xvi.  33  ;  John  xx. 

19,  21,  26;  Isaiah  xxvi.  3  ;  Phil.  iv.  6,  7; 
Col.  iii.  15. 


RELATIVE    DUTIES     OF    BE- 
LIEVERS.   ■ 

A  new  commandment  I  give  unto  you, 
that  ye  love  one  another  :  as  I  have 
io^■ed  you,  that  ye  also  love  one  another. 
John  xiii.  34. 

Now  are  they  many  members,  yet  but 
one  body,     i  Cor.  xii.  20, 

Ye  ought  to  wash  one  another's  feet. 
John  xiii.  14. 

Be  kindly  affectioned  one  to  another. 
Rom.  xii.  10. 

In  honor  preferring  one  another. 
Rom.  xii.  10. 

Be  of  the  same  mind  one  toward 
another.     Rom.  xii.  16. 

Receive  ye  one  another,  as  Christ  also 
received  us  to  the  glory  of  God.  Rom. 
XV.     7. 

By  love  serve  one  another.     Gal. v.  13. 

Bear  ye  one  another's  burdens.  Gal. 
vi.  2. 

Be  ye  kind  one  to  another,  tender- 
hearted.    Eph.  iv.  32. 

Forgive  one  another.     Eph,  iv.  32. 

Forbearing  one  another.     Col.  iii   13. 

Teaching  and  admonishing  one 
another.     Col.  iii.  16. 

Comfort  one  another,     i  Thess.iv.i8. 

Edify  one  another,     i  Thess.  v.  1 1 . 

And  let  us  consider  one  another  to 
'^..ovoke  unto  love  and  to  good  works. 
Heb   X,  24. 

Exhorting  one  another,  and  so  much 
the  more  as  ye  see  the  day  approaching. 
Heb.  X.  25, 

Confess  your  faults  one  to  another. 
Jaines  v.  16. 

Pray  for  one  another.     Jas.  v.  16. 

Having  compassion  one  of  another. 
1  Peter  iii.  8. 

Use  hospitality  one  to  another,  i 
Peter  iv.  9, 

All  of  you  be  subject  one  to  another. 
I  Peter  v.  5. 

Beloved  let  us  love  one  another,  for 
love  is  of  God.     I  John  iv,  7. 


SUGGESTIONS         FOR         YOUNG 
CHRISTIANS. 

Whether  therefore  ye  eat  or  drink,  or 
whatsoever  ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glory  of 
God.     I  Cor.  X.  31. 

1.  Never  neglect  daily  private  prayer  ; 
if  possible  have  stated  times  for  this 
exercise,  and  when  you  pray,  remember 
that  God  is  present,  and  that  He  hears 
your  prayer.     Heb.  xi.  6. 

2.  Never  neglect  private  Bible  reading; 
and  when  you  read,  remember  that  God 
is  speaking  to  you,  and  that  you  are  to 
believe  and  act  upon  what  He  says. 
Backsliding  generally  begins  with  the 
neglect  of  private  prayer  and  scripture 
reading.     John  v.  39. 

3.  Never  let  a  day  pass  without  trying 
to  do  something  for  Jesus.  Every  night 
reflect  what  Jesus  has  done  for  you,  and 
then  ask  yourself,  what  am  I  doing  for 
Him?     Matt.  vi.  13,  16. 

4.  If  ever  you  are  in  doubt  as  to  a 
thing  being  right  or  wrong,  at  once  ask 
God's  guidance  and  blessing. — Col.  iii. 
17.  If  you  cannot  do  this,  stand  still, — 
Rom.  xiv.  23. 

5.  Never  take  your  Christianity  from 
Christians,  or  argue  that  because  such 
and  such  people  do  so  and  so,  that  there- 
fore you  may. — 2  Cor.  x.  12.  You  should 
ask  yourself,  how  would  Christ  act  in  my 
place?  and  strive  to  follow  Him. — ^John 
X.  27. 

6.  Never  believe  what  you  feel  if  it 
contradicts  God's  word.  Ask  yourself, 
can  what  I  feel  be  true,  if  God's  word  be 
true  ?  and  if  both  cannot  be  true,  believe 
God  and  make  your  own  heart  a  liax. — 
Rom.  in.  4;  i  John  v.  10,  11. 

Remember  the  Saviour's  words :  herein 
is  my  Father  glorified  that  ye  bear  much 
fruit,  &c.    John  xv.  8. 

Without  Me  ye  can  do  nothing.  John 
XV.  5. 


SUGGESTIONS    TO    YOUNG 

CHRISTIANS. 

You  have  accepted  the  gospel  of  God 

concerning  His  Son,  Jesus  Christ,   Rom. 

i.    I,   as  it  has  been  preached  to  you  in 


NOTES  FOR  BIBLE  READINGS. 


179 


word  and  song,  according  to  the 
Scriptures,  that  Christ  died  for  your  sins 
and  lives  in  heaven  for  your  justification  ; 
-and  with  all  your  weakness  and  imper- 
fections, you  come  to  Him,  and  trust 
Him  as  your  Saviour.  Permit  me  to 
make  the  following  suggestions  as  to  the 
life  in  Christ  that  is  before  you  : 

1.  The  authority  for  your  salvation  is 
the  word  of  God.  The  Holy  Spirit 
bears  witness  to  the  word^  not  to  our 
feelings.  In  proportion  as  you  believe 
the  promises,  and  are  satisfied  to  rest 
upon  them  without  reference  to  your 
feelings,  will  you  have  the  witness  of  the 
Spirit.  See  i  John  v.  9-13  ;  iv.  9,  10,  19 ; 
fohn  V.  24  ;  John  i.  12  ;  John  iii.  14-18  ; 
Acts  xiii.  38,  39  ;  2  Cor.  v.  18-21 ;  i  Cor. 
XV.  1-4;  Rom.  V.  1-8;  Rom.  viii.  i; 
Rom.  X.  8-10.  All  of  these  promises  are 
for  you.  If  you  trust  in  them,  God  will 
keep  His  word^  you  will  have  the  salva- 
tion. Let  the  experience  of  feelmg 
■come  as  God  please. 

2.  Having  accepted  Christ,  turn 
■square  away  from  every  known  sin, 
looking  to  Jesus  for  power  to  do  so. 
^om.  xii.  1-3  ;  2  Cor.  vii.  I  ;  Gal.  v.  13-16; 
Eph.  iv.  I,  2,  22-32. 

3.  Let  nothing  separate  you  from  the 
love  of  Christ — that  is,  from  the  believing 
that  He  loves  you — that  He  has  com- 
passion upon  your  weakness,  sympathy 
for  your  failings,  and  forgiveness  for  your 
-sins  under  any  and  all  circumstances. 
If  you  stumble  and  fall,  if  you  are  over- 
<come,  go  to  Him,  confess,  and  He  will 
forgive  and  restore  you.  As  you  confess, 
look  away  to  the  cross,  and  see  that  the 
sins  confessed  were  put  there,  and  have 
been  atoned  for,  and  you  will  go  in  pe'ace, 
with  grace  in  your  heart  to  have  less 
confidence  in  yourself,  and  more  con- 
fidence in  Christ  to  keep  you  in  future. 
John  xiii.  i;  Rom.  viii.  31-39;  2  Cor. 
xii.  9  ;  Heb.  ii.  16-18  ;  Heb.  iv.  14-16  ; 
I  John  V.  8-10  ;  i  John  v.  i. 

4.  Let  no  day  pass  without  getting  a 
portion  of  God's  word  into  your  heart ; 


don't  make  any  rule  that  you  will  read 
so  many  chapters  a  day,  but  study  the 
word  ;  one  verse  in  the  heart,  is  better 
than  twenty  chapters  carelessly  read ; 
and  let  no  day  pass  without  secret  prayer. 
Cultivate  the  spirit  of  prayer ;  lift  your 
heart  silently  to  God  during  hours  of 
business,  in  hours  of  leisure,  upon  the 
street,  in  wakeful  hours  of  night,  and 
busy  hours  by  day — when  tempted,  when 
depressed,  when  joyful.  God  loves  you  ; 
you  have  become  reconciled  to  Him,  your 
sins  are  all  forgiven,  and  He  loves  to 
have  you  think  of  Him,  and  look  to  Him 
in  all  things.  Phil.  iv.  4-7  ;  2  Tim.  iii. 
14-17;  I  Peter  ii.  i,  2;  James  i.  5; 
James  iv.  6-8. 

5.  Neglect  no  known  duty.  Be  prompt 
in  obeying  the  leadings  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Do  not  trifle  with  convictions  He  may 
give  you  as  you  study  God's  word  in 
regard  to  any  command  you  find  there, 
that  you  should  obey.  If  you  resist 
doing  His  will,  you  will  grieve  Him,  and 
your  communion  with  Christ  will  be 
overclouded. 

He  commands  us  to  confess  Christ 
with  our  mouths  and  before  men.  Rom. 
X.  9  ;  Matt.  X.  32,  33. 

He  commands  us  to  be  baptised  in 
His  name.  Mark  xvi.  16  ;  Acts  xvi.  31, 
33;  Acts  viii.  35-38  ;  I  Peter  iii.  21,  22. 

He  commands  us  to  identify  ourselves 
with  His  church,  and  break  bread  and 
drink  the  wine  in  memory  of  His  death, 
and  to  show  our  hope  in  His  coming. 
Luke  xxii.  17-20 ;  Acts  ii.  42,  46,  47  ;  i 
Cor.  xi.  23-26  ;  I  Cor.  xii.  13  ;  Heb.  x.  25. 

A  saving  faith  in  Christ  will  manifest 
itself  in  a  readiness  to  obey  these  com- 
mands, and  as  God  gives  grace,  all  the 
injunctions  of  His  word  will  become 
precious  to  you,  and  it  will  be  your  joy 
to  walk  in  obedience  to  them,  in  the 
power  of  the  new  nature  within  you. 

And  now  dear  friend  in  Christ  Jesus, 
may  God  our  Father  and  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  our  Saviour,  fill  you  with  all  joy 
and  peace   in  believing.      We  commend 


\ 


i8o 


■:OTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


you  unto  God  and  the  word  of  His  grace, 
A^hich  is  able  to  build  you  up,  and  to 
give  you  an  inheritance  among  all  them 
which  are  sanctified.     D.  W.  Whittle. 


MANIFESTATION  OF  CHRIST  TO 
THE  WORLD  BY  HIS  PEOPLE. 

1.  His  purpose  and  order.  John  xvii. 
i8,  20,  21 ;  Mark  xvi.  15. 

2.  Life.  Jarnes  i.  18 ;  John  i.  13  ;  i 
Peter  i.  23  ;  i  Johniii.  9  ;  Col.  iii,  1-5. 

3.  Membership,  i  Cor.  vi.  15  ;  Eph. 
V.  30  ;  I  Cor.  xii.  27  ;  Rom.  xii.  5  ;  vi.  13. 

4.  Position.  Matt.  x.  40  ;  i  John  iv. 
17 ;  Gal.  ii.  20  ;  2  Cor.  v.  14,  15,  17, 

5.  Light.  John  viii,  12  ;  Matt.  v.  14, 
15:2  Cor.  iv.  6  ;  Phil.  ii.  15,  16  ;  Matt. 
V.  16;  Eph.  V.  8. 

6.  Character.  Matt.  v.  13  ;  Mark  ix. 
50;  Luke  xiv.  34,  35. 

7.  Office.  John  iv.  15,  16.;  xv.  27; 
I  Peter  ii.  9,  12  ;  Coh  i.  27  ;  Gal.  iv.  19; 
i.  15,  i6;  Titus  ii.  14.     H.  M.  Parsons. 

CHRISTIANS. 

Are  to  be  buried  with  Christ.  Col. 
ii,  12. 

Are  to  be  crucified  with  Christ.  Gal. 
ii.  20, 

Are  to  be  dead  with  Christ.  Col.  ii.  20. 

Are  to  be  hidden  with  Christ.  Col. 

iii.  3- 

Are  to  be  risen  with  Christ,   Col.  iii.i. 

Are  to  be  baptised  (unto  His  death.) 
Rom.  vi.  3. 

Are  to  be  planted  (in  death.)  Rom. 
vi.  5. 

Are  to  be  sacrificed  with  Christ.  John 
xvii.  19  ;  Heb.  ii.  11. 

Are  to  be  glorified  with  Christ.  Rom. 
viii.  17;  John  xvii,  22. 

Are  to  be  complete  in  Christ.  Col. 
ii.  10  ;  Col.  iv.  12. 

Are  to  enter  into  rest  with  Christ. 
Heb.  xiv.  3. 

Are  to  suffer  with  Christ.  1  Peter 
iv.  13  ;  Rom.  viii.  17. 

CHRISTIANS   ARE   TO  BE   LIKE 

JESUS. 

Are  not  to  look  back.     Luke  ix.  62, 

Are  to  deny  themselves.    Luke  ix.  23. 

Are  to  hear  Him.     Luke  ix.  35. 

Are  to  bear  His  cross.     Luke  xiv.  27. 

Are  to  be  faithful  in  the  least.  Luke 
xvi.  10. 

Are  to  take  the  lowest  room.  Luke 
XIV.  10. 

Are  to  have  compassion.     Luke  x. 

S3-37- 


"HE  THAT  OVERCOMETH." 

To  him  that  overcometh  will  I  give 
to  eat  of  the  Tree  of  Life.     Rev.  ii.  7. 

He  that  overcometh  shall  not  be  hurt 
of  the  second  death.     Rev.  ii.  n. 

To  him  that  overcometh  will  I  give 
to  eat  of  the  hidden  manna.  Rev.  ii.  17. 

Him  that  overcometh  will  I  make  a 
pillar  in  the  temple  of  my  Goa,  and  he- 
shall  go  no  more  out.     Rev.  iii.  12. 

To  him  that  overcometh  will  I  grant 
to  sit  with  Me  in  My  throne  even  as  I 
also  overcame,  and  am  set  down  with 
My  Father  in  His  Throne.    Rev.  iii.  21^ 

He  that  overcometh  shall  inherit  all 
things  ;  and  I  will  be  his  God,  and  he- 
shall  be  My  son.     Rev.  xxi,  7. 

And  they  overcame  by  the  blood  of: 
the  Lamb.     Rev.  xii.  11. 


STEDFASTNESS. 

Stedfast  in  the  faith,  i  Peter  v.  9  ;. 
Coll.  ii.  5. 

Our  profession.    Heb.  iv.  14;  2  Tim^ 

i.  13- 

In  doctrine.     Acts  li.  42. 

Stedfast,  unmovable.     i  Cor.  xv.  58.. 

Without  wavering.  James  i.  6  ;  Heb;- 
X.  23. 

Established  with  grace.     Heb.  xiii.  9. 

If  thou  prepare  thine  heart.  Job  xi. 
13-20. 

In  sore  affliction.     Psalm  xliv.  17,  18, 

Confidence.     Heb.  iii.  6. 

Unto  the  end.  Heb.  iii.  14;  Mark 
xiii.  13. 

That  no  man  take  thy  crown.  Rev,. 
iii.  II. 

CONSECRATION. 

A  call.     I  Chron.  xxxix.  5. 

A  duty.     Ex.  xxxii.  29  ;  Num.  vi.  12  :; 
Rev.  i.  6  ;  Eze.  xliii,  26 ; 
Acts  xxiv.  16;  Rom.  xiii. 
I  ;    Eph.  vi.  II  ;    2  Cor. 
vi.  19,  20. 

A  first  duty.  See  i  Chron.  xxxix.  5  ;. 
read  Matt.  vi.  33  ;  i  Tim.  iv.  8  ;  i  Kings- 
iii.  5-13  ;  Mark  x.  29,  30. 

Must  be  willing.  See  i  Chron.  xxxix. 
5  ;  Gen.  xxxv.  5  ;  Psalm  ex.  3 ;  Judges 
V.  2  ;  I  Chron.  xxix.  9  ;  i  Peter  v.  2. 

Must  be  entire.  Matt.  vi.  24  ;  Rom» 
xiii.  14;  I  Cor.  x,  31;  Col.  iii.  16;  2- 
Tim.  ii.  19-22. 

Illustrations.  Luke  v.  11  ;  Exodrs- 
xxix.  20.  J.  H,  L. 


2  Cor.  vi.  17  , 
14 ;  Rom.  xii. 
V.  15  ;    I  Cor. 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


lol 


••  IN  LOVE.  " 

Before  Him.     Eph.  i.  4. 
Rooted  and  grounded.     Eph.  iii,  17. 
Forbearing  one  another.     Eph.  iv.  2. 
Speaking  the  truth.     Eph.  iv.  15. 
Edifying  the  body.     Eph.  iv.  16. 
Walk  in  love.     Eph.  v.  2. 


THE  CHRISTIAN'S  HOME. 

I  have  a  home  above,     2  Cor.  v.  i. 
From  sin  and  sorrow 

free  ;  Rev.  xxi.  4, 27. 

A  mansion  which  eternal 

love  John  xiv.  2. 

Design 'd  and  form'd  for 

me.  Matt.  xxv.  34. 

My  Father's  gracious  hand 

Eph,  i.  3. 
Has  built  this  sweet  abode  ; 

Heb.  xi.  16. 
from  everlasting  it  was  plann'd 

Eph.  i.  II. 
My  dwelling-place  with  God. 

Exod.  XV.  17. 

My  Saviour's  precious  blood 

Heb.  ix.  II,  12. 
Has  made  my  title  sure  ; 

Heb.  X.  14. 
He  pass'd  through  death's  dark 

raging  flood  Ps.  xlii.  7. 

To  make  my  rest  secure. 

Heb.  X.  15. 

The  Comforter  is  come, 

Acts  ii.  2,  4. 
->    The  earnest  has  been  given  ; 

Eph.  i.  13,  14. 
He  leads  me  onward  to  the  home 

Rom.  viii.  14. 
Reserved  for  me  in  heaven. 

I  Peter  i.  4,  5. 

Bright  angels  guard  my  way  ; 

Heb.  i.  14. 
His  ministers  of  power,     Ps.  ciii.  20. 
Encamping  round  me  night 

and  day,  Ps.  xxxiv.  7. 

Preserve  in  danger's  hour. 

2  Kings  iv.  16,  17. 

Loved  ones  are  gone  before, 

I  Thess.  iv.  14. 
Whose  pilgrim  days  are  done; 

Heb.  xi.  13. 
1  soon  shall  greet  them  on 

that  shore.  i  Thess.  ii.  19. 

Where  partings  are  unknown. 

I  Thess.  iv.  17. 


But  more  than  all  I  long 

Ex.  xxxiii.  lo. 
His  glories   to  behold,    John  xvii.  24. 
Whose  smile  e'er  fills  that 

radiant  throng  Ps.  iv.  7. 

With  ecstasy  untold.       i  Cor.  ii.  9. 

That  bright,  yet  tender  smile 

Num.  vi.  25,  26. 
(My  sweetest  welcome  there). 

Matt,  xxv.  34. 
Shall  cheer  me  through  the 

'  little  while'  John  xiv.  18,19. 

I  tarry  for  Him  here.      i  Thess.  i.  10. 

Thy  love,  Thou  precious 

Lord,  Cant,  i.  2. 

My  joy  and  strength  shall  be, 

John  XV.  10,  II. 
Till  Thou  shalt  speak  the 

gladdening  word      Cant.  ii.  10. 
That  bids  me  rise  to  Thee. 

Cant.  ii.  13. 

And  then  through  endless 

days,  Ps.  cxlv.  2. 

Where  all  Thy  glories  shme. 

Rev.  xxi.  23. 
In  happier,  holier  strains  I'll 

praise  Rev.  v.  9,  10. 

The  grace  that  made  me 

Thine.  Eph.  ii.  8. 


THIRTY  TRAITS  OF  CHRISTIAN 
CPIARACTER. 
Assurance,     i  Thes.  i.  5  ;  Heb.  x.  22. 
Blameless,     i  Cor.  i.  8  ;  Phil.  ii.  15. 
Boldness.     Heb.  x.  ig  ;  Phil.  i.  20. 
Charity,     i  Tim.  iv,  12  ;  2  Pet.  i.  7. 
Confidence.     2  Cor.  v.  6  ;  Heb.  x.  35. 
Diligence.     2  Pet.  i,  5  ;  Heb.  vi.  11. 
Endurance.     2  Tim,  ii,  3  ;  Rom.  v.  3. 
Faithfulness,      i   Cor.  iv.  17  ;  Rev.  ii, 

ID. 

Gentleness.     2  Cor.  x.  i  ;  Gal.  v.  22. 
Goodness.     Eph.  v.  9  ;  Rom.  xv.  14. 
Hospitable,     i  Pet.  iv.  9 ;  Rom.  xii.  13. 
Holiness.     2  Cor.  vii.  i  ;  i  Pet.  i.  16. 
Integrity.     Pro.  xx.  7  ;  Ps,  Ixxviii.  72. 
Joy.     Jas.  i.  2  ;  I  Pet.  i.  8. 
Kindness.     2  Pet.  i.  7  ;  Col.  iii.  I2. 
Love.     Eph.  i.  15;  Gal.  v.   13,  14;  i 
Cor.  xiii. 

Liberality.     Isaiah  xxxii.  8;  2  Cor.  ix. 

Meekness.     Eph.  iv.  2;  Titus  iii.  2. 

Ministering.  Pleb.  vi.  10;  i  Peter  iv. 
10. 

Obedience.     Rom.  xvi.  19;  i  Pet.  i. 22, 

Prayer.     2  Cor.  i.  11 ;  i  Pet.  iv.  7. 

Praise.  Luke  xxiv.  53;  Ps.  cl;  Rev. 
v.  9-13. 


1 82 


NOTES   FOR   BIBLE   READINGS. 


Quietness.  2  Thes.  iii.  12;  i  Tim.  ii.  2. 

Readiness.     Tit.  iii.  i ;  2  Cor.  viii.  1 1 . 

Soberness,     i  Thes.  v.  6;  i  Pet.  v.  8. 

Temperance.     2  Pet.  i.  6;  Gal.  v.  23. 

Unfeignedness.  i  Pet.  i.  22;  2  Cor. 
vi.  6. 

Vigilance,     i  Pet.  v.  8;  i  Tim.  iii.  2. 

Watchfulness.  Rev.  iii.  2  ;  i  Cor. 
xvi.  13. 

Zeal.     Col.  iv.  13;  Titus  ii.  14. 


PRECIOUS  BLOOD. 

{THE  believer's  ALPHABET.) 

Atones  for  the  soul.  Lev.  xvii.  1 1 . 

Brings  us  into  the  covenant  of  grace. 

Matt.  xxvi.  28. 

Cleanses  us  from  all  sin.  i  John  i.  7. 

Delivers  God's  people  from  judgment. 

Ex.  xii.  13. 

Everlasting  in  its  value.        Heb.  xiii.  20. 
Furnishes  the  only  ground  of 

peace  with  God.  Col.  i.  20. 

Gives  us  access  into  His  presence. 

Heb.  X.  19-21. 

Has  already  obtained  for  us  redemption. 

Eph.  i.  8. 

Imparts  eternal  life.  John  vi.  54. 

Justifies  us  in  the  sight  of  God. 

Rom.  V.  9. 

Keeps  us  m  the  holy  of  holies. 

Heb.  ix.  22-26. 

Links  us  to  God's  electing  purpose. 

I  Pet.  i.  2. 

Makes  us  nigh  to  Him.  Eph.  ii.  13. 

Never  needs  to  be  offered  again. 

Heb.  ix.  14. 

Overcomes  the  power  of  Satan. 

Rev.  xii.  11. 

Purges  the  conscience  from  dead  works. 

Heb.  ix.  14. 

Quenches  the  righteous  wrath  of  God. 

Rom.  iii.  25. 

Redeems  us  from  our  state  of  ruin. 

I  Pet.  i.  18,  19. 
Speaks  to  God  and  to  us  of  salvation. 

Heb.  xii.  25. 
Tunes  the  voices  of  the  saints 

in  holy  song.  Rev.  v.  9. 

Unites  us  in  Christian  communion. 

I  Cor.  X.  16. 
Victorious  over  ti-ibulation.     Rev.  vii.  14. 
Washes  us  from  every  stain.        Rev.  i.  5. 
.  Yields  the  price  that  bought  the 

Church.  Acts  xx.  28. 


BLOOD. 
Clothed.     Gen.  iii.  21. 
Sacrifice.     Gen.  iv.  4,  5. 
Salvation.     Exodus  xii.    7,    13 ;    Johis 
i.  29  ;  I  Cor.  v.  7. 

Substitution.     Isaiah  liii.  4,  5. 

Redemption,     i  Peter  i.  18,  19. 

Forgiveness.     Eph.  i.  7. 

Washed.     Rev.  i.  5. 

Justified.     Rom.  v.  9. 

Peace.     Col.  i.  20. 

Separation.     Heb.  xiii.  12. 

Victory.     Rev.  xii.  11.  W.  R^ 


"THE  BLOOD  MAKETH  AN 
ATONEMENT    FOR    THE    SOUL.'^ 

Leviticus  xvii.  ii  ;  Exodus  xii.  13,  14. 

The  Blood  of  Christ purge  your 

conscience to  serve  the  living  God.. 

Heb.  ix.  14. 

The  Blood  of  Jesus  Christ  His  Soa 
cleanseth  us  from  all  sin.     i  John  i.  7. 

My  Blood  of  the  new  testament,  which. 
is  shed  for  many,  i  Tim.  i.  2  ;  Mark 
xiv.  24. 

My    Blood which    is    shed    for 

many  for  the  iremission  of  sins.     Matt^ 
xxvi.  28. 

Ye  were. . .  .redeemed with  the 

precious  Blood  of  Christ as  of  & 

Lamb  without  blemish.     I  Pet.  i.  18,  19. 

Ye  who. ...  ..were  far  off  are  made- 
nigh  by  the  ■  Blood  of  Christ,  i  Peter 
iii.  18  ;  Eph.  ii.  13. 

Boldness  to  enter  into  the  holiest  by 
the  Blood  of  Jesus,  by  a  new  and  living; 
way.     Heb.  x.  19,  20. 

Unto  obedience  and  sprinkling  of  the 
Blood  of  Jesus  Christ,     i  Peter,  i.  2. 

Ye  are  come  unto  Mount  Zion  and 
to  the  Blood  of  sprinkling  that  speaketb 
better  things.     Heb.  xii.  18-24. 

Washed and  made  them  white 

in  the  Blood  of  the  Lamb.     Rev.  vii.  14.. 

They  overcame  him  (Satan  the  ac- 
cuser) by  the  Blood  of  the  Lamb  and 
their  testimony.     Rev.  xii.  11. 

(Jesus  Christ)  having  made  peace 
through  the  Blood  of  His  Cross.  Col.  i. 
1-20. 

Much  more  then,  being  now  justified 
by  His  blood,  we  shall  be  saved  from 
wrath.     Romans  v.  9. 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


•83 


In  whom  we  have  redemption  through 
His  Blood,  the  forgiveness  of  sins.  Eph. 
i.  7. 

In  whom  we  have  redemption  through 
His  Blood,  even  the  forgiveness  of  sins. 
Col.  i.  14. 

Set   forth a  propitiation   through 

faith  in  His  Blood,  to  declare  His 
righteousness.     Rom.  iii.  25. 

This  cup  is  the  new  testament  in  My 
Blood,  which  is  shed  for  you.  Luke  xxii, 
20. 

Thou hast  redeemed  us  to   God 

by  Thy  Blood  out  of  every  kindred  and 
tongue.     Rev.  v.  9. 

Washed  us  from  our  sins  in  His  own 
Blood,  and  hath  made  us  kings  and 
priests.     Rev.  i.  5,  6. 

That  He  might  sanctify  the  people  with 
His  own  Blood,  suffered  without  the  gate. 
Heb.  xiii.  12. 

Purged  with  blood  ;  and  without 
sheading  of  Blood  is  no  remission.  Heb. 
ix.  22. 


VALUE  AND  EFFICACY  OF  THE 
BLOOD  OF  CHRIST. 

The  life  of  the  flesh  is  in  the  blood  ; 
and  I  have  given  it  to  you  upon  the  altar, 
to  make  an  atonement  for  your  souls  :  for 
it  is  the  blood  that  maketh  an  atonement 
for  the  soul.     Lev.  xvii.  ii. 

Hence  we  have,  through  faith — 

I.  Redemption. — In  wh6m  we  have 
redemption  through  His  blood,  even  the 
forgiveness  of  sins.     Col.  i.  14. 

Feed  the  church  of  God,  which  he  hath 
purchased  with  his  own  blood.  Acts  xx. 
28. 

Thou  wast  slain  and  hast  redeemed  us 
to  God  by  thy  blood,  out  of  every  kindred, 
and  tongue,  and  people,  and  nation. 
Rev.  V.  9. 

Ye  were  not  redeemed  with  corruptible 
things,  as  silver  and  gold,  from  your  vain 
conversation,  received  by  tradition  from 
your  fathers  ;  but  with  the  precious  blood 
of  Christ,  as  of  a  lamb  without  blemish 
and  without  spot,   i  Pet.  i.  18,  19. 


2.  Forgiveness  of  sins. — In  whom  we 
have  redemption  through  his  blood,  the 
forgiveness  of  sins.     Eph.  i.  7. 

This  is  my  blood  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment which  is  shed  for  many  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins.     Matt.  xxvi.  28. 

Whom  God  hath  set  forth  to  be  a  pro- 
pitiation through  faith  in  His  blood,  to 
declare  his  righteousness  for  the  remission 
of  sins  that  are  past.     Rom.  iii.  25. 

Without  shedding  of  blood  is  no  re- 
mission.    Heb.  ix.  22. 

3.  Justification. — Being  now  justified 
by  Flis  blood,  we  shall  be  saved  from 
wrath  through  Him.     Rom.  v.  9. 

4.  Peace. — Having  made  peace  through 
the  blood  of  His  cross.     Col.  i.  20. 

5.  Cleansing  from  sin,  both  as  to  the 
person  and  the  conscience. — The  blood  of 
Jesus  Christ,  His  Son,  cleanseth  us  from 
all  sin.     I  John  i.  7. 

How  much  shall  the  blood  of  Christ, 
who  through  the  eternal  Spirit  offered 
Himself  without  spot  to  God,  purge  your 
conscience  from  dead  works  to  serve  the 
living  God.     Heb.  ix.  14. 

These  are  they  which  came  out  of  great 
tribulation,  and  have  washed  their  robes, 
and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb.     Rev.  vii.  14. 

Unto  Him  that  loved  us,  and  washed 
us  from  our  sins  in  His  own  blood,  and 
hath  made  us  kings  and  priests  unto  God 
and  his  Father :  to  Him  be  glory  and 
dominion  for  6ver  and  ever.     Rev.  i.  5,6. 

6.  Nearness  to  God. — Now,  in  Christ 
Jesus,  ye  who  sometimes  were  far  oflF,  are 
made  nigh  by  the  blood  of  Christ.     Eph. 

ii-  13- 

Having  therefore,  brethren,  boldness  to 
enter  into  the  holiest  by  the  blood  of 
Jesus.     Heb.  x.  19. 

7.  Victory. — They  overcame  him  by 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  and  by  the  word 
of  their  testimony.     Rev.  xii.  Ii.    • 

8.  Eternal  life. — Except  ye  eat  the 
flesh  of  the  Son  of  man,  and  drink  his 
blood,  ye  have  no  life  in  you.  Whoso 
eateth  my  flesh  and  drinketh  my  blood 
hath  eternal  life.     John  vi.  53,  54. 


1 84 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READI^'Cl;. 


TRECIOUS  BLOOD. 

Redeemed.      I  Pet.  i.  i8. 

Washed.     Rev.  i.  5. 

Cleansed.     I  John  i.  7. 

Forgiveness.     Eph.  i.  7. 

Justified.     Rom.  v.  9. 

Sanctified.     Heb.  xiii,  12. 

Have  peace.     Col.  1.  20. 

Perfect.     Heb.  x.  14. 

Overcome.     Rev.  xii.  11. 

Anointed.     Rev.  i.  5,  6. 
.  Made  nigh.    -Eph.  ii.  13. 

Constant  access.     Heb.  x.  ig. 

Have  right  to  the  tree  of  life,  and  to 
enter  into  the  city  by  the  blood.'  Rev. 
xxii.  14. 

We  stand  in  white  robes  before  the 
throne.     Rev.  yii.  14. 


THE  BLOOD  OF  CHRIST. 

1.  The  blood  of  Christ  brings  every 
one  who  believes  within  the  covenant  of 
grace,  ordered  in  all  things  and  sure. 
Matt.  xxiv.  28  ;  Heb.  xiii.  20,  21. 

2.  The  blood  of  Christ  is  the  purchase 
price  which  God  has  paid  for  the  church. 
Acts  XX.  28. 

3.  •  The  blood  of  Christ  constitutes  the 
true  and  only  ground  of  peace  with  God. 
Col.  i.  20  ;  Acts  X.  36. 

4.  The  blood  of  Christ  brings  those 
who  were  once  at  a  great  distance  from 
God  very  near  His  heart  and  throne. 
Eph.  ii.   13. 

5.  The  blood  of  Christ  secures  our 
present  redemption. .  Eph.  i.  7  ;  I  Pet.  i. 
18,  19. 

6.  The  blood  of  Christ  is  the  propitia- 
tion for  the  believer.  Rom.  iii.  25.  And 
the  word  here  rendered  propitiation  is 
translated  mercy -seat  in  Heb.  ix.  5,  the 
only  other  passage  where  it  is  used  ;  so 
that  Christ  is  the  mercy  seat,  or  place  of 
friendly  meeting  between  a  believing 
sinner  and  a  satisfied  God. 

7.  The  blood  of  Christ  so  thoroughly 
removes  the  guilt  of  the  believer  that 
there  is  not  a  spot  or  stain  left  upon  him 
in  God's  view.     I  John  i.  8. 

8.  The  blood  of  Christ  justifies  all 
who  trust  in  Him,  and  justifies  them  even 
amid  the  defilements  of  their  nature  and 
the  evils  by  which  they  are  surrounded. 
Rom.  v.  8,  9. 


9.  The  blood  of  Christ  sanctifies  uii,  of 
separates  us  from  our  old  Adam  condi- 
tion and  from  the  world  and  consecrates 
us  to  God.     Heb.  xiii.  12  ;  Pleb.  x.  14. 

10.  The  blood  of  Christ  delivers  us 
from  the  weight  and  condemnation  of 
those  works,  which,  however  admired  by 
the  world,  are  "dead,"  because  they  do 
not  spring  from  the  life-giving  principle 
of  faith.     Heb.  ix.  13,  14. 

1 1 .  The  blood  of  Chnst  has  bestowed 
upon  us  a  fitness  for  heaven,  and  taken 
us  out  of  the  dominion  of  Satan,  and 
placed  us  under  the  care  of  Him  who  is 
Head  over  all  things.     Col.  i.  12-24. 

12.  The  blood  of  Christ  imparts  eter- 
nal life  and  complete  oneness  with  our 
risen  Lord.     John  vi.  54-56. 

13.  The  blood  of  Christ  has  gained  us 
access  into  the  presence  of  God  with  per- 
fect confidence.     Heb.  x.  19-21. 

14.  The  blood  of  Christ  is  the  bond  of 
union  and  communion  among  Christians 
of  every  name,     i  Cor.  x.  16. 

15.  The  blood  of  Christ,  if  accepted  as 

God's  own  way  of  saving  the  sinner,  is 

the  evidence  of  eternal  election.     I  Pet, 
i.  2. 

16.  The  blood  of  Christ,  if  rejected, 
increases  the  guilt  and  deepens  the  doom 
of  the  unbeliever.     Heb.  x.  29. 

17.  The  blood  of  Christ  is  one  of 
God's  witnesses  on  earth,     i  John  iv.  8. 

18.  The  blood  of  Christ  has  a  voice, 
speaking  forever  in  the  Father's  ear  of 
justice  vindicated,  of  law  honored,  of 
divine  righteousness  illustriously  display- 
ed; and  speaking  in  the  anxious  sinner's 
ear  the  glad  tidings  of  a  free,  certain, 
present  salvation  to  him  that  believeth.. 
Heb.  xiii.  24. 

19.  The  blood  of  Christ  achieves  the 
victory  over  Satan,  the  malignant  accuser 
of  the  brethren.     Rev.  xii.  ii. 

20.  The  blood  of  Christ  raises  His 
people  to  the  highest  dignity,  although 
burdened  with  the  toils  and  harrassed  by 

the  temptations  of  this  life.     Rev.  i.  5,  6. 

21.  The  blood  of  Christ  is  the  joyful 
theme   of  the   redeemed,  inspiring   their 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


185 


•songs    to    the    highest   notes   of  praise. 
Rev.  V.  9,  10, 

22.  The  blood  of  Christ  washes  the 
Tobes  of  the  tried  saints  in  the  last  days, 
and  introduces  them  into  heaven,  to  go 
-out  no  more,  and  to  suffer  no  more  for- 
■cver.  Rev.  vii.  14-17  ;  2  Cor.  ix.  15. 
Dr.  J.  H.  Brookes. 

THE  BELIEVER'S  FELLOWSHIP. 

Truly  our  fellowship  is  with  the 
Father,  and  with  His  Son  Jesus  Christ. 
7  John  i.  3. 

in  death. — He  died  unto  sin  once. — 
Rom.  vi.  10.  Reckon  ye  also  5'ourselves 
"to  be  dead  indeed  unto  sin. — Rom.vi.ii. 

In  resurrection. — Christ  was  raised  up 
:from  the  dead  by  the  glory  of  the  Father. 
— Rom.  vi.  4.  Hath  raised  us  up 
together. — Eph.  ii,  6. 

In  life. — I  am  He  that  liveth. — Rev.i. 
!8.  Because  I  live,  ye  shall  live  also. — 
John  xiv.  19. 

lu  title. — He  entered  in  once  by  His 
.own  blood. — -Heb.  ix.  12.  We  have 
redemption  through  Hisblood.-Eph.i.7, 

In  sonship. — This  is  My  beloved  Son. 
Matt.  xvii.  5,  Now  are  we  the  sons  of 
'<jrid. — I  John  iii.  2. 

In  heirship, — Heir  of  all  things, -Heb. 
i.  2.  Joint  heirs  with  Christ. — Rom. 
•viii.  17. 

In  righteousness. — The  righteousness 
-of  God  in  Him. — 2  Cor.  v.  21. 

In  holiness. — A  lamb  without  blemish 
and  without  spot  — i  Peter  i.  19.  There 
is  no  spot-in  thee. — Cant.  iv.  7. 

In  love. — God  is  love. — i  John  iv.  16. 
The  love  of  God  is  shed  abroad  in  our 
hearts. — Rom.  v.  5. 

In  power. — Greater  works  than  these 
.shall  He  do,  because  I  go  unto  My  Father. 
— John  xiv.  12.  I  can  do  all  things 
■through  Christ  which  strengtheneth  me. 
— Phil.  iv.  13. 

In  judgment. — The  Father  ....  hath 
vcommitted  all  judgment  unto  the  Son. 

f  oan  V.  22.     The  saints  shall  judge  the 

w\<irlr:  — i   "'--    " 


In  rule. — Psalm  ii,  9  ;  Rev.  ii.  26,  27. 
Rev.  xix.  14,  15. 

In  aim. — Father,  glorify  Thy  name.-  - 
John  xii.  28.  Therefore  glorify  God  m 
your  body,  and  in  your  spirit,  which  are 
God's. — I  Cor.  vi.  20. 

In  possession. — All  things  that  the 
Father  hath  are  Mine. — John  xvi  15. 
All  things  are  yours. — i  Cor.  iii.  21. 

FELLOWSHIP    WITH    GOD   AND 
ITS  RESULTS. 

WE   ARE 

Justified  with  God.  Job.  xxv.  4  ;  Ro. 
iii.  26. 

WE   HAVE 

Peace  with  God.     Rom.  v,  1. 
Power  with  God.     Gen.  xxxii.  28. 
Favour  with  God.     Luke  i.  30. 

LET   US 
Meet  with  God.     Ex.  xix.  17. 
Abide  with  God.     i  Cor.  vii.  24. 
Walk  with  God.     Gen.  v.  22. 
Work  with  God.     i  Sam.  xiv.  45. 
Plead  with  God.    Job  xvi.  21. 


FELLOWSHIP  AS  PRESENTED  1 1; 
THE  FIRST  EPISTLE  OF  JOHN. 

1 .  Fellowship,  its  nature.  i  John 
i-iii.  I,  2. 

2.  Fellowship,  its  fruit,  Holiness,  i 
John  iii.  3-24. 

3.  Fellow^ship,  its  law,  Tricth .  i  Jno. 
iv.  1-6. 

4.  Fellowship,  its  life,  Lovf.  i  John 
iv.  7-21. 

5.  Fellowship,  its  root,  Faith.     1  Jno. 

V,   1-21. 

1.  The  nature  of  fellowship,  presented. 
(I.)  As  affected  by  the  incarnation  and 
death  of  Christ,  chap.  i.  1-7.  (2.)  As 
affording  no  ground  for  the  denial  of  our 
sinfulness,  chap.  i.  8  ;  ii.  5.  (3.)  As  the 
only  efficient  basis  of  brotherly  love. 
chap,  ii  6-1 1.  (4.)  Reason  for  address- 
ing all  Christians,  the  feeblest  and 
youngest  on  this  subject,  chap.  ii.  12-14. 
(5.)  Non-fellowship  with  the  world, 
chap.  ii.  15-17.  (6.)  Non-fellowship 
with  antichristian  error,  chap.  ii.  18-29. 
(7.)  Relation  of  fellowship  to  sonship, 
and  future  giory,  chap.  iii.    2. 

2.  The  fruit  of  fellowship,  Holiness. 
(i.)  Its   binding  natur'=-.    r'^--\    r'     -■), 


1 86 


NOTES   FOR   BIBLE   READINGS. 


(2.)  Brotherly  love  one  of  the  fruits  of 
holiness,  chap.  iii.  10-18.  (3.)  Other 
fruits,  chap.  iii.  19-24. 

3.  The  law  of  fellowship,  Truth,  chap, 
iv.  1-6. 

4.  The  life  of  fellowship,  Love,  chap, 
iv.  7-21. 

5.  The  root  of  fellowship,  Faith,  (i.) 
Its  efficacy,  chap.  v.  1-5.  (2.)  The  three 
witnesses  to  its  all-sufficient  foundation, 
chap.  V.  6-12.  (3.)  Faith  in  intercessory 
prayer,  or  prayer  for  one  another,  chap. 
V.  13-17.  (4.)  Conclusion  —  Christians 
urged  to  maintain  fellowship  through 
Christ,  chap.  v.  18-21. 


FELLOWSHIP  WITH  CHRIST. 
In  blessing.     Eph.i.  3. 
In  power.     Eph.  i.  20. 
In  rest.     Eph.  ii.  6. 

In  the  heavenly  manifestations.     Eph. 
iii.  10. 

In  victory.     Eph.  vi.  12. 


ASSOCIATION  WITH  CHRIST. 

God  is  offering  His  Son  to  sinners. 
Richer,  fuller,  freer  love  He  could  not 
show.  A  gift  more  precious  He  could 
not  bestow.  I  find  no  such  thought  in 
Scripture  as  *' grasping  the  promises;" 
they  are  all  yea  and  amen  in  Christ  Jesus. 
Your  eternal  weal  or  woe,  dear  reader, 
hangs  upon  your  rejection  or  reception  of 
God's  Son,  God  does  not  give  promises 
to  the  sinner  ;  but  offers  Christ.  The 
saint  gets  all  the  promises.  The  sinner 
gets  Christ,  and  he  finds  all  the  promises 
wrapped  up  in  Him. 

1.  His  Cross — Crucified  with  Christ. 
Gal.  ii.  20. 

2.  His  Death — Dead  with  Christ. 
Rom.  vi.  8. 

3.  His  Life — Quickened  us  together 
with  Christ.     Eph.  ii.  5. 

4.  His  Resurrection — Raised  in  His 
resurrection.     Rom.  vi.  5. 

5.  His  Rising — If  ye  then  be  risen 
with  Christ.     Col.  iii.  i. 

6.  His  Position — As  he  is,  so  are  we  in 
this  world.     I  John  iv.  17. 

7.  His  Acceptance — Accepted  in  the 
Beloved.     Eph.  i.  6. 

8.  His  Peace — My  peace  I  give  unto 
you.    John  xiv.  27. 


9.  His  Joy — My  joy  fulfilled  in  them-. 
John  xvii.  13. 

10.  His  Love — The  love  wherewith) 
thou  hast  loved  Me  may  be  in  them. 
John  xvii.  26. 

11.  His  Glory — Glorified  together. 
Rom.  viii.  17. 

12.  His  Rest — Entering  into  His- 
(God's)  rest.     Heb.  iv.  i. 

13.  His  Throne — Sit  with  Me  in  My 
throne.     Rev.  iii.  21. 

14.  His  Reign — We  shall  also  reign^; 
with  Him.     2  Tim.  ii.  1-2. 

15.  His  Patience — Thou  hast  kept  the 
word  of  My  patience.     Rev.  iii.  10. 

16.  His  Power — To  him  will  I  give 
power  as  I  received  of  My  Father.  Rev. 
ii.  26,  27. 

17.  His  Inheritance — In  whom  we  also- 
obtain  an  inheritance.     Eph.  i.  ii. 

18.  His  Heirship — Joint-heirs  with 
Christ.     Rom.  viii.  17. 

19.  His  Likeness — We  shall  be  like- 
Him.  I  John  iii.  2.  Like  Him  bodily^ 
Phil.  iii.  21. 

20.  His  iVdt/wr^— Partakers  of  His- 
nature.     2  Pet.  i.  4. 

21.  His  Mind — We  have  the  mind  of 
Christ.     I  Cor.  ii.  16. 

22.  His  Sanctification — I  sanctify  My- 
self, that  they  also  might  be  sanctified. 
John  xvii.  19. 

23.  His  Mission — As  My  Father  hatha 
sent  Me,  even  so  send  I  you.  John  xx.  21. 

24.  His  Rejection — If  they  have  perse- 
cuted Me,  they  will  also  persecute  you. 
John  XV.  20. 

25.  His  God  and  Father — My  Father- 
and  your  Father,  My  God  and  your  God. 
John  XX.  17. 

26.  His  Yoke — Take  My  yoke  upon? 
you.     Matt.  xi.  29. 

27.  His  Cup — Ye  shall  drink  indeed  of 
My  cup.     Matt.  xx.  223. 

28.  His  Words — I  have  given  unto 
them  the  words  which  Thou  gavest  Me. 
John  xvii.  8. 

THE  "PARTAKERS"  OF  THE 
BIBLE. 

Partakers  of  that  one  bread.  I  Cor^ 
X.  17. 

Partakers  of  Christ's  sufferings,  i  Pet. 
iv.  13. 

Partakers  of  his  promise  in  Christ.. 
Eph.  iii.  6. 

Partakers  of  the  inheritance  of  ther 
saints,  etc.     Col.  i.  12. 

Partakers  of  the  heavenly  calling.  Helx. 
iii.  I. 


NOTES  FOR  BIBLE  READINGS. 


187 


Partakers  of  Christ.     Heb.  iii.  14. 

Partakers  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Heb. 
vi.  4. 

Partakers  of  His  holiness.  Heb.  xii.  10. 

Partakers  of  sufferings  and  consolation. 
2  Cor.  i.  7. 

Partakers  of  the  glory  that  shall  be  re- 
vealed.    I  Pet.  V.  I. 


THE    PRIVILEGES    OF    THE 

SAINTS. 

Partakers  of  flesh  and  blood.  Heb. 
ii.  14. 

Partakers  of  the  heavenly  calling. 
Heb.  iii.  i. 

Partakers  of  Christ.     Heb.  iii.  14. 

Partakers  of  the   Holy    Ghost.     Heb. 

Partakers  of  chastisement.  Heb.  xii.  8. 

Partakers  of  His  holiness.  Heb.  xii. 
10. 

Partakers  of  Christ's  suffering,  i  Pet. 
iv.  13. 

Partakers  of  the  glory,     i  Pet.  v.  i . 

Partakers  of  the  divine  nature.  2  Pet. 
i.  4. 

Partakers  of  the  consolation.  2  Cor. 
i.  7. 

Partakers  of  the  afflictions  of  the  Gos- 
pel.    2  Tim.  i.  8. 

Partakers  of  the  inheritance  of  the 
saints  in  light.     Col.  i.  12. 


PARTAKERS. 
Of  Grace,  Phil.  i.  7.  Of  the  Affliction 
of  the  Gospel,  2  Tim.  i.  8.  Of  His  holi- 
ness, Heb.  xii.  10.  Of  the  Glory  that 
shall  be  revealed,  i  Pet.  v.  i.  Of  the 
Divine  Nature,  2  Pet.  i.  4.  The  Inher- 
itance of  the  Saints  in  Light,  Col.  i.  12. 
Of  Christ's  sufferings,  i  Pet.  iv.  13. 
And  also  of  the  consolation,  2  Cor.  i.  7. 
Of  the  Heavenly  calling,  Heb.  iii.  i.  Of 
Christ,  Heb.  iii.  10.  Of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
Heb.  vi.  4. 


PARTAKERS. 
Our  Privileges. — Of  Christ,  Heb. 
iii.  14.  Of  Grace,  Phil.  i.  7.  Of  the 
divine  nature,  2  Pet.  i.  4.  Of  the 
heavenly  calling,  Heb.  iii.  i.  Of  His 
promise,  Eph.  iii.  6.  Of  the  inheritance 
of  the  saints,  Col.  i.  12.  Of  the  glory 
that  shall  be  revealed,  i  Pet.  v.  i. 


Our  Responsibilities.— Of  the  gos- 
pel, I  Cor.  ix.  23.  Of  His  holiness,, 
Heb.  xii.  10.  Of  afflictions,  2  Tim.  i.  8. 
Of  the  one  loaf,  i  Cor.  x.  17;  the  Lord's- 
body,  I  Cor.  x.  21.  Of  Christ's  suffer- 
ings, I  Pet.  iv.  13.  Of  discipline,  Heb.. 
xii.  8. 


"  ONE  ANOTHER." 

Fellowship  of   saints.      Rom.  xii.    5  ;, 

I   Cor.  i.    17  ;    xii.    13 ;    Eph.   iv.   25  ;, 
Eph.  iv.  16. 

Love  one  to  another.  John  xiii.  34 ;, 
XV.  12-17  ;  I  John  iii.  23  ;  2  John  v.  ;. 
iv.  7-11  ;  Gal.  v.  13  ;  i  Thess.  iv. 
9  ;  I  Thess.  iii.  12  ;  Rom.  xii.  10 ;  i 
Peter  iii.  8  ;  Heb.  x.  24 ;  John  xiii.  35  ;. 
see  Matt.  v.  44-48  ;  Mark  xii.  31  ;  Rom.. 
xiii.  10 ;  Rom.  xiii.  8. 

Unity  one  virith  another,     i  Cor.  xii. 

25  ;  Rom.  xii.  16  ;  Rom.  xv.  5  ;   see  also- 

Phil.  i.  27  ;  ii.  2  ;   iii.    16  ;    i   Cor.  i.  10; 
I  Peter  iii.  8. 

Duties  connected  vi^ith  one  another.. 
Eph.  iv.  2,  32  ;  Col.  iii.  13. 

What  to  do.  Gal.  vi.  2  ;  I  Thess.  iv^ 
18  ;  I  Thess.  v.  11  ;  Rom.  xiv.  19  ;  xv.. 
14 ;  Col.  iii.  16 ;  Rom.  xv.  7  ;'  James  v.. 
6  ;  Eph.  V.  21  ;  l  Peter  v.  5  ;  Heb.  iii.. 
13  ;  Heb.  x.  25  ;  John  xiii.  14  ;  i  Peter 
iv.  9  ;  I  Cor.  xi.  33  ;  Rom.  xvi.  16  ;  1 
Cor.  xvi.  20 ;  2  Cor.  xiii.  12  ;  i  Pet.  v.  14. 

What  not  to  do.  Gal.  v.  26  ;  Gal.  v^ 
15  ;  James  iv.  2  ;  v.  9  ;  I  Cor.  iv.  6  ;  CoL 
iii.  9  ;  Rom.  xiv.  13. 

ALL  MINE  ARE  THINE  AND 
THINE  ARE  MINE. 

John  xvii.  10. 
My  blood  which  is  shed  for  you.     Eph^ 

ii.  13  ;   Heb.  xiii.  12  ;    i  John  i.  7  ;  Luke 

xxii.  20. 

My  body  which  is  given  for  you. 
Rom.  vi.  6  ;  i  Peter  ii.  24  ;  Eph.  i.  22  ; 
Luke  xxii.  19. 

Go  to  my  brethren  and  say  unto  them 
I  ascend  unto  My  Father.    John  xx.  1 7. 

iSIy  burden  is  light.  Gal.  v.  i  ;  2  Cor. 
i.  3  ;  Phil.  iv.  6.  7  ;  Matt,  xi.  30. 

Against  the  day  of  my  burying  hath, 
she  kept  this.     Rom.  vi.  4  ;   John  xii.  7^ 


i8S 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


This  is  My  commandment  that  ye 
love  one  another  as  I  have  loved  you. 
John  XV.  12. 

Ye  shall   drink    indeed  of  my   cup. 

Matt.  xxvi.  42;  John  xviii.  11;  Psa. 
txiii;  Matt.  xx.  23. 

Then  are  ye  my  disciples  indeed. 
John  XV.  8  ;  John  viii.  31. 

My  doctrine  is  not  mine,  but  His  that 
'Sent  me.    John  xvii.  4  ;  John  vii.  t6. 

My  Father  and  your  Father.  John  x. 
29,  30;  xvi.  27;  xvii.  24;  XX.  17. 

My  flesh  is  meat  indeed.  John  vi.  51 ; 
iv.  34 ;  Heb.  x.  19-23  ;  John  vi.  55. 

Ye  are  my  friends,  if  ye  do  whatsoever 
I  command  you.  Rom.  v.  10 ;  John  xv.i4. 

That  they  may  behold  my  glory,  which 
thou  hast  given  me.  John  xvii.  22 ; 
jcvii.  24. 

My  God,  My  God,  why  hast  Thou 
forsaken  me  ?  2  Cot.  v.  21 ;  Matt, 
xxvii.  46. 

If  I  honour  myself,  my  honour  is  noth- 
ing, it  is  My  Father  that  honoureth  me. 
John  viii.  54. 

To  sit  on  my  right  hand  and  on  my 
left  hand  is  not  mine  to  give.  Mark  x.  40. 

Mine  hour  is  not  yet  come.  John  vii. 
30  ;  viii.  20  ;  Luke  xxii.  53  ;  John  ii.  4. 

That  they  might  have  my  joy  fulfilled 
in  them  selves.  J  ohn  xv.  1 1 ;  John  xvii  .13. 

My  judgment  is  just.  John  xii.  48; 
•Luke  V.  22  ;  John  v.  30. 

My  Kingdom  is  not  of  this  world. 
Kev.  xi.  15  ;  xix.  16 ;  John  xix.  36. 

Feed  My  lambs.  Luke  xviii.  16 ; 
John  X.  16  ;  i  John  ii.  28  ;  John  xxi.  15. 

I  lay  down  my  life  for  the  sheep. 
Psalm  xxiii.  i ;  Heb.  xi'ii.  20 ;  i  Peter 
V.  4 ;  John  x.  15. 

Continue  ye  in  my  love,  i  John  iii. 
i' ;  Ephesians  iii.  17-19  ;  2  Thess.  iii.  5  ; 
John  XV.  9. 

My  meat  is  to  do  the  will  of  Him 
4hat  sent  me.  Matt.  iv.  4 ;  Rom.  xii.  i  ; 
John  iv.  34. 

Behold  my  mother  and  my  brethren. 

Luke  ii.    48,    49;    John  xix.   26;  Matt. 

xii.  49. 

Whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  the  Father 


in  My  name,  He  will  give  it  you.  John 
xvi.  23. 

My  peace  I  give  unto  you.     Rom.  v, 

1  ;  Eph.  ii.  14;  Heb.  xiii.  20,  21  ;  John 
xiv.  27. 

For  My  sake  and  the  Gospel's.  Matt. 

XXV.  40  ;  Isaiah  xliii.  25  ;  2  Cor.  viii.  9 ; 

Mark  x.  29. 

I  know  my  sheep  and  am  known  of 

mine.     2  Tim.  i.  12  ;  ii.  19;  i  John  iii. 

2  ;  John  x.  14. 
That  ye  may  eat  and  drink   at  my 

table  in  my  kingdom.  Canticles  ii.  4; 
Luke  xxii.  30. 

Ye  are  they  which  have  continued 
with  me  in  my  temptations.  Rev.  iii. 
10-12 ;  Luke  xxii.  28. 

My  time  is  not  yet  come.  Acts  i.  7 ; 
Heb.  X.  37  ;  Titus  ii.  13  ;  John  vii.  6. 

Every  one  that  is  of  the  truth  heareth 
My  voice.  Prov.  viii.  34  ;  Cant.  ii.  8 ; 
John  xviii.  37. 

Not  My  will,  but  Thine  be  done. 
Acts  xxvii.  23 ;  I  Thess.  iv.  3 ;  Gal.  ii. 
20  ;  John  xxii.  42. 

If  I  bear  witness  of  myself,  My  wit- 
ness is  not  true,  &c.     2  Peter  i.  17,  18 ; 

1  John  i.  3  ;  John  v.  31. 
If  ye  abide  in  me,  and  My  words  abide 

in  you,  ye  shall  ask  what  ye  will.  John 
XV.  7. 

My  yoke  is  easy.     Phil.  ii.  13  ;  iv.  4  ; 

2  Cor,  iii.  17  ;  Matt.  xi.  30. 
I  and  My  Father  are  one,  John  x.  30. 
Wist    ye  not  that  I   must  be  about 

My  Father's  business.     Luke  ii.  49. 

I  have  kept  my  Father's  command- 
ments.   John  XV.  10. 

No  man  is  able  to  pluck  them  out  of 
my  Father's  hand.     Johnx.  29. 

In  my  Father's  house  are  many 
mansions.  .  John  xiv.  2. 

Until  that  day  when  I  drink  it  new 

with    you  in    my    Father's    kingdom. 
Matt.  xxvi.  29. 

I   am    come  in  my   Father's  name. 

John  V.  43. 

I  send  the  promise  of  my  Father  upon 

you.     Luke  xxiv.  49. 

If  I  do  not  the  works  of  my  Father, 
believe  me  not.    John  x.  37. 


NOTES   FOR   BIBLE   READINGS. 


iSgj 


TRULY      OUR     FELLOWSHIP     IS 

WITH     THE    FATHER,     AND 

WITH    HIS    SON,     JESUS 

CHRIST.— I  John  i.  3. 

Ye  are  the  body  of  Christ,  i  Cor. 
xii.  27. 

Behold,  what  manner  of  love  the 
Father  hath  bestowed  upon  us.  i 
John  iii.  i. 

Crucified  with  Christ.     Rom.  vi.  6. 

Died  with  Christ.  (Alford's  transla- 
tion.)    Rom.  vi.  8. 

Buried  with  him.     Rom.  vi.  4. 

Planted  together  in  tlie  likeness  of 
His  death.     Rom.  vi.  5. 

Planted  together  in  the  likeness  of  His 
resurrection.     Rom.  vi.  5. 

Quickened  together.     Eph.  ii.  5. 

Raised  up  together.     Eph.  ii.  6. 

Sitting  together  in  heavenly  places. 
Eph.  ii.  6. 

Living  together,     i  Thess.  v.  10. 

Working  together.  Mark  xvi.  20  ; 
2  Cor.  vi.  r. 

Suffering  together.     Rom.  viii.  17. 

Glorified  together.     Rom.  viii.  17. 

I  am  the  light  of  the  world.  John 
viii.  12. 

Ye  are  the  light  of  the  world.  Matt. 
v.  14. 

I  am  not  of  the  world.    John  xvii.  16. 

They  are  not  of  the  world.  John 
xvii.  16. 

Because  it  knew  Him  not.  i  John  iii.  i . 

The  world  knoweth  us  not.  i 
John  iii.  i. 

Ye  know  that  it  hated  Me.  John 
XV.  18. 

The  world  hath  hated  them.  John 
xvii.  14. 

I  have  overcome  the  world.  John 
xvi.  33. 

Whatsoever  is  bom  of  God  overcometh 
the  world,     i  John  v.  4. 

He  will  judge  the  world  by  that  Man 
whom  He  hath  ordained.     Acts  xvii.  3 1 . 

Do  ye  not  Icnow  that  the  saints  shall 
judge  the  world,     i  Cor.  vj.  2. 

He  put  on  righteousness  as  a  breast- 
plate.    Isaiah  lix.  xvii. 

Having  on  the  breastplate  of  righteous- 
ness.    Eph.  vi.  14. 

An  helmet  of  salvation  on  His  head. 
Isaiah  lix.  17. 

Take  the  helmet  of  salvation.  Eph. 
vi.  17. 

Behold  the  Man,  whose  name  is  the 
Branch.     Zech.  vi.  12. 

Ye  are  the  branches.    John  xv.  5. 

A  living  stone,     i  Peter  ii.  4. 

Ye  also,  as  lively  stones,     i  Peter  ii.  5. 


The  Son  of  God.     i  John  iii.  8. 
Now    are    we    the    sons    of   God.     i> 
John  iii.  2. 

A  Priest  upon  His  throne.  Zech.  vi.  13.. 

And  hath  made  us  kings  and  priests. 
Rev.  i.  6. 

He  shall  reign  for  ever  and  ever. 
Rev.  xi.  15. 

They  shall  reign  for  ever  and  ever.. 
Rev.  xxii.  5. 

The  faithful  witness.     Rev.  i.  5. 

Ye  are  witnesses.     Luke  xxiv.  48. 

He  was  afflicted.     Isaiah  liii.  7. 

Then  shall  they  deliver  you  up  to  be- 
afflicted.     Matt.  xxiv.  9. 

He  Himself  has  suffered,  being  tempted. 
Heb.  ii.  18. 

Ye  are  in  heaviness  through  manifold 
temptations,     i  Peter  i.  6. 

He  was  reviled,     i  Peter  ii.  23. 

Men  shall  revile  you.     Matt.  v.  11. 

He  is  despised.     Isaiah  liii.  3. 

We  are  despised,     i  Cor.  iv.  10. 

Make  the  Captain  of  their  salvation 
perfect  through  sufferings.     Heb.  ii.  10. 

After  that  ye  have  suffered  a  while 
make  you  perfect,     i  Peter  v.  10. 

His  Son,  the  brightness  of  His  glory.. 
Heb.  i.  3. 

Bringing  many  sons  unto  glory.^ 
Heb.  ii.  10. 

He  went  forth  conquering,  and  to- 
conquer.     Rev.  vi.  2. 

More  than  conquerors  through  Him. 
Rom.  viii.  37. 

Heir  of  all  things.     Heb.  i.  2. 

Heirs  of  God,  joint-heirs  with  Christ.. 
Rom.  viii.  17. 

My  servant.     Isaiah  xlii.  i. 

Servants  of  God.     i  Peter  ii.  16. 

God  anointing  Jesus.     Acts  x.  38, 

He  which  hath  anointed  us  is  God.- 
2  Cor.  i.  21. 

Christ,  who  is  the  image  of  God.  2- 
Cor.  iv.  4. 

Changed  into  the  same  image.  2 
Cor.  iii.  18. 

Even  as  We  are  One.    John  xvii.  22. 

That  they  may  be  one.     John  xvii.  23. 

Even  as  Thou  hast  loved  Me.  John 
xvii.  23. 

Thou  hast  loved  them.     John  xvii.  23. 

In  whom  I  am  well  pleased.  Matt.iii.17. 

The  Lord  taketh  pleasure  in  His, 
people.     Psalm  cxlix.  4. 

Without  spot.     I  Peter  i.  19. 


igo 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


There  is  no  spot  in  thee.     Song  iv.  7 . 

Who  pnly  hast  immortality,  i  Tim. 
■vi.    16. 

This  mortal  must  put  on  immortality. 
1  Cor.  XV.  53. 

How  terrible  art  Thou.    Psalm  lxvi.3. 

Thou  art  terrible.     Song  vi.  4. 

Holy,  undefiled.     Heb.  vii.  26. 

My  undefiled.     Song  v.  2. 

Grace  is  poured  into  Thy  lips.  Psalm 
xlv.  2. 

Thy  lips  are  like  a  thread  of  scarlet 

and  tny  speech  is  comely.     Song  iv.  3. 

God  hath  blessed  Thee  for  ever. 
Psalm  xlv.  2. 

God  hath  blessed  us  witn  all  spiritual 
blessings  in  heavenly  places.     Eph.1.3. 

He  which  raised  up  the  Lord  Jesus. 
.2  Cor.  IV,  4. 

Shall  raise  up  us  also  by  Jesus.  2 
Cor,  iv.  4. 

Crowned  with  glory  and  honor. 
Heb.  ii.  9. 

Ye  shall  receive  a  crown  of  glory. 
I  Peter  v.  4. 

Chosen  of  God.     i  Peter  ii.  4. 

They  that  are  with  Him  are  chosen. 
Hev.  xvii.  14. 

He  was  faithful  to  Him  that  appointed 
Him.     Heb.  iii.  2. 

They  that  are  with  Him  are  faithful. 
Rev.  xvii.  14. 

Mine  elect.     Isaiah  xlii.  i . 

Elect  of  God.     Col.  iii.  12. 

In  whom  my  soul  delighteth. 
Isaiah  xlii.  i . 

The  Lord  delighteth  in  thee.  Isaiah 
Ixii.  4. 

My  beloved.     Matt.  xii.  18. 

My  beloved.    Jer.  xi.  15. 

Fairer  than  the  children  of  men. 
Tsalm  xlv.  2. 

Thou  art  all  fair.     Song  iv.  7. 

How  great  is  His  beauty.  Zech.  ix.  17. 

Thou  wast  exceeding  beautiful. 
Ezek.  xvi.  13. 

He  Himself  likewise  took  part  of  the 
■same.     Heb.  ii.  14. 

The  children  are  partakers  of  flesh  and 
blood.     Heb.  ii.  14. 

There  appeared  an  angel,  strengthen- 
mg  Him.     Luke  xxii.  43. 

Strengthened  with  all  might.  Col.  i.  1 1. 

My  Father.    John  xx,  17. 

Your  Father.     John  xx.  17. 


My  God.    John  xx.  17. 
Your  God,     John  xx   17. 
The  Lord  of  peace.     2  Thess.  iii.  16. 
My  peace   I   give  unto  you.      John 
xiv.  27. 

He  would  have  given  thee  living 
water.     John  iv.  10. 

He  that  believeth  on  Me,  out  of  him 

shall     flow    rivers     of    living     water. 
John  vii.  38. 

A  man  of  sorrows.     Isaiah  liii.  3. 

Ye  shall  be  sorrowful.    John  xvi.  20. 

His  raiment  was  white  as  the  light. 

Matt,  xvii  2. 

Clothed  in  white  raiment.     Rev.  iv.  4. 

His  countenance  was  as  the  sun. 
Rev.  i.  16. 

Clear  as  the  sun.     Song   vi.  10. 

The  Lord  will  hold  thine  hand. 
Isaiah  xlii.  6. 

I  the  Lord  will  hold  thy  right  hand. 
Isaiah  xli.  13. 

Jesus  wept.    John  xi.  35. 

Ye  shall  weep.    John  xvi.  20. 

All  power  is  given  unto  Me.  Matt, 
xxviii.  17. 

I  give  unto  you  power.     Luke  x.  19. 

Jesus  groaned  in  the  spirit.  John  xi.  33. 

We  do  groan  being  burdened.  2 
Cor.  V.  4. 

Jesus  was  troubled.    John  xi.  33. 

We  are  troubled  on  every  side.  2 
Ccr.  iv.  8. 

I  will  also  give  Thee  for  a  light  to 
the  Gentiles.     Isaiah  xlix.  6. 

The  Lord  commandeth  us,  saying,  I 
have  set  thee  to  be  a  light  of  the 
Gentiles.     Acts  xiii.  47. 

A  man  of  sorrows.     Isaiah  liii.  3. 

Ye  »ow  therefore  have  sorrow.  John 
xvi.  22. 

This  is  His  name  whereby  He  shall 
be  called,  the  Lord  our  righteousness. 
Jer.  xxiii.  6. 

This  is  the  name  wherewith  she  shall 
be  called,  the  Lord  our  righteousness. 
Jer.  xxxiii.  16. 

Christ  hath  suffered  for  us  in  the 
flesh.     I  Peter  iv.  i. 

Arm  yourselves  likewise  with  the 
same  mind,     i  Peter  iv.  I. 

A  man  approved  of  God.     Acts  ii.  22. 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


191 


Study  to  shew  thyself  approved  unto 
'God.     2  Tim.  ii.  15. 

He  became  obedient.     Phil.  ii.  8.   . 

As  obedient   children,     i  Peter  1.  14. 

Merciful.     Heb.  ii.  17. 

Be  ye  therefore  merciful.     Luke  vi.36. 

Christ  pleased  not  Himself.  Rom. 
■XV.    3. 

We  then  .  .  ought  .  .  .  not  to  please 
ourselves.     Rom.  xv.  1. 

I  am  meek  and  lowly.      Matt.  xi.  29. 

Be  clothed  with  humility,    i  Peter  v, 5. 

Separate  from  sinners.     Heb.  vii.  26. 

Be  ye  separate.     2  Cor.  vi:  17. 

Even  as  Christ  forgave  you.  Col.iii.13. 

So  also  do  ye.     Col.  iii.  13. 

I  am  holy,     i  Peter  i.  16. 

Be  ye  holy,     i  Peter  i.  16. 

As  I  have  loved  you.     John  xiii.  34. 

That  ye  also  love  one  another.  John 
•xiii.  34. 

Jesus  rejoiced  in  spirit.     Luke  x.  21. 

Rejoice  in  the  Lord.     Phil.  iv.  4. 

I  will  feed  My  flock.     Ezek.  xxxiv.  15. 

Feed  My  sheep.     John  xxi.  16. 

He.  .  gave  thanks.     Mark  viii.  6. 

Giving  thanks  always.     Eph.  v.  20. 

Holy,  harmless.     Heb.  vii.  26. 

Be  ye  harmless.     Matt.  x.  16. 

I  have  washed  your  feet.    John  xiii.  14. 

Ye  also  ought  to  wash  one  another's 
•feet.     John  xiii.  14. 

Even  as  He  is  pure,     i  John  iii.  3. 

Every  man  that  hath  this  hope  in  him 
rpurifieth  himself,     i  John  iii.  3. 

I  in  them,  and  Thou  in  Me.  John 
xvii.    23. 

To  him  that  overcometh  will  I  grant 
to  sit  with  Me  in  my  throne,  even  as  I 
also  overcame,  and  am  set  down  with 
my  Father  in  His  throne.     Rev.  iii.  21. 

To  him  that  overcometh„and  keepeth 

My  works  unto   the  end,  to  him  will  I 

give  power  over  the  nations,  and   He 
•-shall  rule  them.     Rev.  ii.  26,  27. 

Even  'as  I  received  of  my  Father.  Rev. 
;ii.  26,  27. 

As  My  Father  hath  sent  Me.  John 
XX.  21. 

£ven  so  send  I  you.     John  xx.  21. 

As  the  Father  hath  loved  me.  John 
xv.  9. 

So  have  I  loved  you.     John  xv.  9. 

I  have  given  unto  them  the  words 
which  Thou  gavest  Me.     John  xvii.  8. 

The  glory  which  Thou  gavest  Me,  I 
»have  given  them.     John  xvii.  22. 


As  .  .  I  Lve  by  the  Father.  Johavi.  57. 

So  he  that  eateth  Me,  even  he  shall 
live  by  Me.     John  vi.  57. 

If  ye  keep  My  commandments,  ye 
shall  abide  in  My  love.     John  xv.  10. 

Even  as  I  have  kept  My  Father's 
commandments.     John  xv.  10. 

And  abide  in  His  love.     John  xv.  10. 

Whereby  are  given  unto  us  exceeding 
great  and  precious  promises,  that  by 
these  ye  might  be  partakers  of  the  divine 
nature,  having  escaped  the  corruption 
that  is  in  the  world  through  lust.  2 
Peter  i.  4. 

FAITH.— Heb.  xi.  i. 

Hope  of  faith.     Gal.  v.  5. 

Joy  of  faith.     Phil.  i.  25. 

Confidence  of  faith.     Eph.  iii.  12. 

Boldness  in  speaking.     2  Cor.  iv.  13. 

Peace.     Rom.  xv.  13. 

Rest.     Heb.  iv.  3. 

Fight  of  faith.     I  Tim.  vi.  12. 

Believers  live  by  faith.     Heb.  ii.  4. 

Believers  stand  by  faith.     2  Cor.  i.  24. 

Believers  walk  by  faith.     2  Cor.  v.-  7. 

Believers  resist  the  devil,     i  Pet.  v.  9. 

Believers  overcome  the  world,  i  John 
v.  4. 

Believers  obtain  a  good  report.  Heb. 
xi.  39. 

Believers  overcome  difficulties.  Heb. 
xi.  33. 

Believers  die  in  faith.     Heb.  xi.  13. 

We  are  saved  by  faith.     Acts  xvi.  3 1 . 

We  get  remission  of  sins.     Rom.  iii.  25. 

We  are  adopted  by  faith.     Gal.  iii.  26. 

We  are  justified  by  faith.     Rom.  v.  I. 

We  are  sanctified  by  faith.  Acts  xxvi. 
18. 

We  are  purified  by  faith.     Acts  xv.  9. 

We  are  edified  by'faith.     i  Tim.  i.  4. 

We^are  kept  by  faith,     i  Pet.  i.  5. 

We  have  access  to  God  by  faith.  Rom. 
V.  2. 

We  inherit  the  promises.      Heb.  vi.  12. 

Saints  should  be  sincere.     I  Tim.  i.  5. 

Saints  should  abound.     2  Cor.  viii.  7. 

Saints  should  continue.     Acts  ii.  22. 

Saints  should  be  strong  in  faith.  Rom. 
iv.  20,  21. 


FAITH  IN  EXERCISE. 

Living.  Gal.  ii.  20.  Obeying.  Rom, 
xvi.  26.  Walking.  2  Cor.  v.  7.  Work- 
ing.  I  Thes.  i.  3.  Praying.  Jas.  v.  15. 
Enduring.  I  Pet.  i.  7.  Fightmg.  1 
Tim.  vi,  12. 


192 


NOTES   FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


TRUE  FAITH    AND  ITS  FRUITS. 

The  man  believed  the  word  that  Jesus 
had  spoken  unto  him.     Joha  iv.  50. 

If  thou  believest  with  all  thine  heart. 
Acts  viiiv  37. 

Lord,  I  believe ;  help  Thou  mine  un- 
belief.    Mark  ix.  24. 

A  great  number  believed  and  turned 
unto  the  Lord.     Acts  xi.  21. 

Whosoever  believeth  that  Jesus  is  the 
Christ,  is  born  of  God.     i  John  v.  i. 

Who  is  he  that  overcometh  the  world, 
but  he  that  believeth  that  Jesus  is  the 
Son  of  God.     I  John  v.  5. 

As  many  as  received   Him,   to   them 

gave  He  power  to  become  the  sons    of 

God,    even  to  them  that  believe  on  His 
name.     John  i,  12. 

■  Whosoever  believeth  in  Him  shall  re- 
ceive remission  of  sins.     Acts  x.  43. 

Pie  that  Cometh  to  Me  shall  never 
hunger  ;  and  He  that  believeth  on  Me 
shall  never  thirst.     John  vi.  35. 

We  should  be  to  the  praise  of  His 
glory,  who  first  trusted  in  Christ.  Eph. 
i.  12. 

In  whom  ye  also  trusted,  after  that  ye 
heard  the  word  of  truth,  the  gospel  of 
your  salvation  :  in  whom  also  after  that 
ye  believed,  ye  were  sealed  with  that 
Holy  Spirit  of  promise.     Eph.  i.  13. 

The  multitude  of  them  that  believed 
were  of  one  heart  and  of  one  soul.  Acts 
iv.  32. 

They  which  have  believed  in  God 
should  be  careful  to  maintain  good  works. 
Titus  iii.  8. 

Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
thou  shalt  be  saved.     Acts  xvi.  31. 

We  are  not  of  them  who  draw  back 
unto  perdition;  but  of  them  that  believe 
to  the  saving  of  the  soul.     Heb.  x.  39. 

God  so  loved  the  world,  that  He  gave 
His  only  begotten  Son,  that  w^hosoever 
believeth  in  Him  should  not  perish,  but 
have  everlasting  life.    John  iii.  16. 

He  that  believeth  on  the  Son  hath 
everlasting  life.    John  iii.  36. 

Whosoever  believeth  in  Me  shall  never 
die.     John  xi.  26. 

He  that  believeth  on  the  Soa  of  God 
hath  the  witness  in  himself.   I  John  v.  10. 


I  know  whom  I  have  believed,  and  an» 
persuaded  that  he  is  able  to  keep  that 
which  I  have  committed  unto  HiiU' 
against  that  day.     2  Tim.  i.  12, 

We  which  have  believed  do  enter  intO' 
rest.     Heb.  iv.  3. 

Believing,  ye  rejoice  with  joy  unspeak- 
able and  full  of  glory.      I  Pet.  i.  8. 

Receiving  the  end  of  your  faith,  even, 
the  salvation  of  your  souls,     i  Pet.  i.  9. 

H.  N.  C. 


WHAT  WE  GAIN  BY  FAITH. 

Pardon.     Acts  x.  43. 
Peace  with  God.     Rom.  v.  I. 
Eternal  Life.     John  iii.  36. 
The  Holy  Spirit.     John  vii.  39. 
Sonship.     Gal.  iii.  26. 
Heirship.     Rom.  viii.  17* 


WHAT  WE  DO  BY  FAITH^ 
We  live.     Rom.  i.  17. 
We  stand.     2  Cor.  i.  24. 
We  walk.     2  Cor.  v.  7. 
We  fight.     I  Tim.  vi.  12. 
We  overcome,     i  John  v.  4, 


FAITH. 


Faith's  key  unlocks  the  treasury  of 
Grace,  and  gives  us  fourteen  things  of 
priceless  value,  as  seen  in  Rom.  v  : 

The  Holy  Ghost.     Ver.   5. 

The  love  of  God  in  our  hearts.    Ver.  5.. 

Atonement.     Ver.  11. 

Reconciliation  to  God.     Ver.  10. 

Justification  now  by  His  blood.   Ver.  9. 

Salvation  from  wrath.  Salvation  b\- 
his  life.     Ver.  9. 

Abundance  of  grace,     Ver.  17. 

Gift  of  righteousness.     Ver.   17. 

Access  to  God.     Ver.  2. 

Stand.     Ver.  2. 

Peace  with  God.     Ver.  i. 

Joy  in  God.     Ver.   li. 

Rejoicing  in  hope.     Verse  2* 

Reign  in  life.     Ver.  17. 


FORGIVENESS. 

Eph.  i.  7  ;  I  John  ii.  12  ;  Isaiah  Iv.  7; 
with  Luke  xviii.  13,  14;  John  i.  29; 
Isaiah  liii.  6 ;  i  Peter  ii.  24  j  Heb.  ix. 
26  ;  Isaiah  i.  18  j  Rev.  i.  5  ;  i  John  i.  9; 
Psalm  xxxii,  i  ;  ciii.  12  ;  Isaiah  xliv.  22; 
Jer.  xxxi.  34;  Isaiah  xxxviii.  17;  Micab 
vii.  ig ;  Ezekiel  xxxiii.  16;  Luke  xv. 
20-22. 

Lessons,  i.  Love  much.  Luke  vii^ 
36-50.  2.  Forgive  others  Eph.  iv,  32  ' 
Col.  iii,  13  ;  Matt.  vi.  12-15 »  xviii.  23-35 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


193 


ASSURANCE  OF  FAITH. 

John  V.  24  ;  John  vi.  47  ;  John  x.  28 ; 
Rom.  viii.  i  ;  Phil.  i.  6  |  Eph.  ii.  6  ;  2 
lim.  i.  12  ;  i  John  ii.  25  ;  Heb.  xiii.  5. 

FAITH. 

rJy  faith  we  live.     Rom.  i.  17. 

By  faith  we  stand.     2  Cor.  i.  24. 

By  faith  we  walk.     2  Cor.  v.  7, 

By  faith  we  fight,     i  Tim.  vi.  12. 

By  faith  we  overcome,     i   John  v,  4. 

By  faith  we  are  justified.  Rom.  iii.28. 

By  faith  we  are  mad,e  children  of  God. 
Gal.  iii.  26. 

By  faith  we  are  sanctified.  Acts 
xxvi.  18. 

By  faith  we  have  access.  Rom.  v.  2  ; 
Eph.  iii.  12. 

Faith  purifies  the  heart.     Acts  xv.  9. 

Without  faith  we  cannot  please  God. 
Heb.  xi.  6. 


HOLINESS  OR  SANCTIFICATION. 

I. — Sanctificaiion  as  Act. 

1.  To  make  clean.  See  Old  Testa- 
ment, also  Heb.  xiii.  12  ;  x.  29  ;  x.  14 ; 
X.  10  ;  ix.  13  ;  ii,  11. 

2.  To   set   apart  or  consecrate    to  a 

divine  purpose  after  purifying.     See  Old 

Testament,  the  case  of  priest  and  Levites, 

also   2  Tim,    ii.    21:    Eph,    v.    26,    27; 
Titus  ii.  14. 

3.  To  set  apart  a  common  thing  for 
the  holy  use  of  a  holy  one.  i  Tim.  iv.  4,5. 

4.  To  devote  a  person    already  and 

intrinsically  holy  to  a  divine  purpose. 
John  X.  36  ;  xvii.  17-19. 

$.  To  consider    and   treat    with  the 
respect  or  veneration  becoming  a  person 
or  thing  as  holy.     Matt.  vi.  9  ;  i  Peter 
iii,  15  ;  Ex.  xx.  8  ;  Deut.  xxxii.  51. 
II. — Sanctificaiion  or  Holiness  as  a  State 
or  Condition  of  deiiig,   and  as  the  per- 
manent essential  condition  of  the  believer 
in  the  sight  of  God. 

1,  The  believer  in  Christ  unites  in 
his  permanent  condition  before  God  all 
the  results  of  the  sanctifying  act  of  God; 
he  is  a  separated,  cleansed,  consecrated, 
unblemished  one,  without  spot  or  wrinkle 
or  any  such  thing,  ever  to  be  mentioned 
as  holy  and  without  blame  in  Christ. 

2.  Before  God  his  changeless   name 

is  "  saint-;"    see  the  greetings  of    the 
Epistles, 


3.  See  Acts  xx.  32  ;  xxvi.  18. 

4.  See   I    Cor.  i.   30;  vi.  11  ;  vi.   i(> 

Eph.  V.  27  ;  2  Tim.  i.  9. 

5.  Holy  brethren.  Heb,  iii,  i  ;  Joho 
xvii. 

6.  Holiness  is  inseparable  from  "  the 
new  man." 

III. — How  is  this  State  or  Condition  before 
God  brought  about  by  Him  ? 

By  union  with  what  is  holy  ;  see  the 
frequent  "  in  Christ,"  "  in  Him."  i  Cor. 
i.  30 ;  Eph.  i,  4  ;  Col,  i.  22 ;  and  as 
illustrated  by  lesser  facts  in  Matt,  xxiii. 
17-19  ;  I  Cor.  vii,  14. 

IV. — How  is  the  believer  to  be  or  to  become 

holy  in  actual  experience. 

1.  The  ground  of  such  possibility  lies 
in  the  new  birth  and  in  "  the  Spirit"  as 
different  from,  and  opposed  to  "the 
flesh."  Rom,  viii.  4;  Gal.  v.  16-18; 
I  John  ii,  29  ;  iii.  9. 

2.  The  permanent  state  of  the  be- 
liever before  God  in  Christ  must  first 
of  all  be  seen  and  owned  by  him  ;  and 
then  the  word  to  him  is,  "you  are  a 
saint,  now  be  a  saint,"  "  you  are  a  sanc- 
tified one,  be  sanctified,"  "  you  are  un- 
leavened, be  unleavened  ;"  in  brief,  "  be 
what  you  are,"  "do  what  you  did  once 
for  all  in  becoming  one  with  Christ." 

For  proof  see  i  Cor,  v,  7,  8  ;  Col.  iii. 
1-5  ;  I  Peter  i.  22,  23  •  i  John  iv.  17; 
Rom.  vi.  19,  22 ;  2  Cor.  vii.  i ;  i  Thess^ 
iii.  12,  13,  iv.  3,  7 ,  V.  23,  24;  Heb^ 
xii.  14  ;  Rom.  xii.  i  ;  i  Cor,  iii,  17 ;  Eph^ 
iv,  24;  Col,  iii.  12;  I  Peter  i,  15,  16; 
Jude  20;  John  xvii.  11.  Holiness  is. 
both  the  condition  and  end  of  being. 

3.  The  believer  must  ever  as  a  person 
identify  himself  with  "the  Spirit"  as 
the  new  nature,  sphere,  realm,  to  which 
he  now  belongs.  Gal.  v.  27  ;  Col.  iii.  7. 
He  is  in  Christ  and  Christ  is  in  him, 
the  Spirit  of  God  is  with  the  spirit  of 
the  saintly  child  of  God.  Rom.  viii.  9» 
16;  I  Cor,  vi,  17, 

4.  The  agent  of  such  practical  holi- 
ness, whose  spirit  and  fulfillment  is  love, 
is  the  Holy  Spirit ;  the  means  He  uses 
the  holy  Word  :    the   insimmcm    t^e 


194 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


faith  of  the  saint ;  and  prayer  is  in- 
separable from  all. 

(a).  As  agent,  the  Holy  Spirit  takes 
charge  of  the  child  of  God  for  every- 
thing, from  regeneration  to  glorification. 
Rom.  viii.  14 ;  Phil.  i.  10  «  John  iii.  5 ; 
I  Cor.  V,  II ;  I  Peter  i.  2  ;  Titus  iii.  5, 
6;  2Thess.  ii.  13.  "  A  no  f/zer  Comforter." 

{b).  He  educates  the  believer  especial- 
ly in  holiness.  Phil.  ii.  12  ;  2  Cor.  iii, 
18  ;  Eph.  iv.  30  ;  as  covering,     Eph.  iv. 

17-32. 

{c).  The  Holy  Spirit  uses  the  word, 
the  truth,  and  in  fullest  personal  form 
He  uses  the  whole,  Christ.  Jesus,  the 
Word,  all  that  is  in  Christ  for  the  saint, 
from  the  cross  to  the  throne.  John  xv. 
26;  xvi.  13,  14 ;  XV.  3  ;  Eph.  v.  25,  26 ; 
I  Peter  i.  22;  Rom,  v.  5  ;  i  Cor.  ii.  12, 
as  related  to  i  Cor.  i.  30. 

(rf).  And  so  specifically  He  uses  for 
sanctification  the  facts  and  finished  re- 
alities in  Christ.  He  points  faith  to  the 
blood  and  the  glory.  He  makes  the 
"leading  thought  of  every  epistle  a  reason 
for  holiness.     Rom.  xii.  i;  Eph.   v.  i . 

1  Peter  ii.  1-5,  9-11 ;  Col,  i.  9-1 1,  as  re- 
lated to  Col.  i.  12-14  ;  Gs-l*  V-  22-28  ;  X 
Cor.  V.  7,  8  ;  i  Peter  i.  22,  23. 

{e) .  He  enlightens  for  growth  in  grace 
the  believer  to  see  in  Christ  such  re- 
alities as  follows  :  Eph.  i.  16-23,  3-s  re- 
lated to  Eph.  i.  4-6 ;  Eph.  iii.  16-20,  as 
related  to  2  Cor.  xii.  9  ;  John  xvii,  17-19, 
as  related  to  John  xvii.  14,  16,  26  ;  also, 

2  Cor.  iii.  18  ;  iv.  16-18  ;  vii.  i  ;  i  Cor. 
vi.  19  ;  I  John  iii.  13  ;  Titus  ii.  11-14. 
The  result  of  all  such  action  and  be- 
holding is  holiness. 

(/).  Finally,  all  is  related  to  humble, 
earnest  prayer  to  God  for  such  manifes- 
tation of  the  enlightening  power  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  who  leads  and  keeps  the 
believer  in  holiness.  So  Paul,  inspired 
Dy  the  Holy  Spirit  to  pray,  hints  to  us 
evermore  of  the  mind  of  the  Spirit. 
Eph.   i.    15-23  ;  iii.   14-21  ;  Phil.  i.  3-6  ; 

r  Thess.  v.  23-25;  John  xv.  16;  Heb. 
xiii   20.  21. 


V. — Lastly,  present  Attainments  and  Ex- 
periences of  Holiness  {and  Love  is  the 
spirit  and  sum  of  Holw.-'^s.  i  Thess. 
iii.  12,  13),  are  never  lit-  to  God's 
standard  and  measure  for  us  as  saints. 
This  is  implied  or  taught  in — 

1.  The  exhortations  of  the  Epistles. 

2.  The  advocacy  of  our  High  Priest. 
Luke  xxii.  31,  32  ;  i  John  ii.  i. 

3.  The  intercession  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Rom.  viii.  26,  27. 

4.  The  washing  of  feet.  John  xiii.  3-17. 

5.  The  offerings  in  Old  Testament 
for  SINS  of  ignorance. 

6.  The  typical  teaching  of  the  mitre. 
Ex.  xxviii.  30-38- 

7.  The  water  of  purification  for  the 
wilderness.     Num.  xix. 

8.  The  leaven  in  the  meat-offering  of 
the  Church  as  compared  with  that  of 
Christ  in  Lev.  xxxiii.  15-17,  with  Lev. 
xxiii.  10-13. 

9.  The  testimony  of  Paul,  i  Cor.  iv.1-5. 

10.  The  perfecting  change  dependent 
on  the  Lord's  coming. 

11.  The  confession  of  saints. 

12.  The  deeper  knowledge  of  the 
word  of  God,  Heb.  iv.  11-16  ;  xii.  9-14  ; 
xiii.  20,  21.  W.  J.  Erdman. 


HOLINESS. 
"  Be  ye  holy,  for  I  am  holy." 

God  is  Holy,  Holy,  Holy,    Rev.  iv.  8. 

The  Holy  Leather.    John  xvii.  11. 

The  Holy  Son.     Luke  i.  35. 

The  Holy  Spirit.     Eph.  iv.  30. 

His  people  are  a  holy  temple,     i  Cor. 
iii.  17. 

His    people    are   a   holy  priesthood. 
I  Pet.  ii.  5. 

His  people  are  holy  brethren.     Heb. 
iii.  I. 

The    Father    chose  them  that    they 
might  be  holy.     Eph.  i.  4. 

The    Son  died    for  them  that    they 
might  be  holy.     Eph.  v.  27. 

The  Spirit  was  given  that  they  might 
be  holy.     2  Thess.  ii.  13. 

God  creates  them  in  holmess.     Eph. 
iv.  24. 

God  calls  them  to  holiness,     i  Thess, 
iv,  7. 

God    stablishes  their  hearts  in  holi- 
ness.    I  Thess.  iii.  13, 

God  chastens    them  that    they  may 
bepartakers  of  His  holiness,  Heb.  zii,io. 


NOTES  FOR  BIBLE  READINGS. 


195 


They  are  to  serve  Him  in  holiness, 
f^uke  i.  75. 

They  are  to  perfect  holiness  in  His 
{fear.    .2  Cor.  vii.  i. 

They  are  to  follow  holiness.  Heb. 
xii.  14. 

They  are  to  have  their  fruit  unto 
lioliness.     Rom.  vi.  22. 

They  are  to  offer  their  bodies  as  a 
%oly  sacrifice.     Rom.  xii.  i. 

They  shall  be  presented  holy  in  His 
•sight.     Col.  i.  22. 

They  shall  be  citizens  of  the  holy 
Jerusalem.     Rev.  xxi.  10. 

They  shall  be  holy  still.    Rev.  xxii.  11. 


THE, WAY  OF  HOLINESS. 
Believer,  would  you  be  "sarictified 
•wholly?"  Then  ponder,  deeply  and 
-prayerfully,  exhortations  in  the  sixth 
and  following  verses  of  I  Thessalonians 
v.,  specially  noting  the  force  of  the  "and" 

in  verse  23  :  —    - 

1st — Let  us  not  sleep  as  do  others. 
2nd — Let  us  watch. 
3rd — Let  us  be  sober. 
4th — Let  us  put  on  the  breast  plate 
■  of  faith  and  love. 

5  th — Let  us    put   on    an    helmet,    the 
'hope  of  salvation. 

6th^Let  us  exhort  one  another. 
7th — Let  us  edify   one   another,    even 
.as  also  ye  do. 

8th — Let  us  know  them  which  labour 
among  us. 

9th — Let  us  esteem  them  very  highly 
dn  love  for  their  work's  sake. " 

1 0th — Let    us    be    at    peace    among 
ourselves. 

nth — Let    us    warn    them   that    are 
-unruly. 

I2th — ^Let     us     comfort     the     feeble 
Tiiinded. 

13th — Let  us  support  the  weak. 
14th — Let  us  be  patient    towards  all 
-men. 

15th — Let    us    see    that    none    render 
■evil  for  evil  unto  any. 

l6th — Let  us  ever  follow   that  which 
is  good  among  ourselves  and  to  all. 
17th — Let  us  rejoice  evermore. 
i8th — Let  us  pray  without  ceasing. 
19th — Let  us  in  every  thing  give  thanks. 
20th~Let  us  quench  not  the  Spirit. 
2 1st — Let  us  not  despise  prophesying. 
22nd — Let  us  prove  all  things. 
23rd — Let  us  hold  fast  that  which  is 
vgood. 


24th — Let  us  abstain  from  every  ap- 
pearance of  evil.  And  the  very  God 
of  peace  will  sanctify  us  wholly. 

Do  you  say,  Who  is  sufficient  for 
these  things?  I  answer,  God,  our  God  ; 
all  our  sufficiency  is  of  God.  Take 
from  Him  then,  beloved,  streu'jth  you 
have  not.  All  He  wants  to  use  is  our 
weakness,  not  our  strength.  Ce  strong 
m  the  Lord  and  in  the  power  of  His 
might.  (Eph.  vi.  10.)  As  you  trusted 
Him  for  your  eternal  salvation,  so  trast 
Him  with  your  present  salvation,  your 
salvation  over  sin.  It  is  God  which 
worketh  in  you  both  to  will  and  to  do 
of  His  good  pleasure.  (Phil.  ii.  13.) 
Let  holiness  to  the  Lord  be  in  the  fore- 
front of  you  always  and  everywhere. 
(Matt.  V.  48  ;  Rom.  xii.  i ;  i  Cor.  iii.  17  ; 
Eph.  i.  4;  Col.  i.  21,  &c.;  2  Timothy  i. 
9;  I  Peter  i.  13  to  16,  and  2  Peter  iii. 
II,  &c.) 


SANCTIFICATION. 
Leviticus  xx.  7  ;  John  xvii.  17  ;  i 
Thessalonians  v.  23  ;  Hebrews  xiii.  12  ; 
Isaiah  xiii,  3  ;  Acts  xx.  32  ;  Romans  xr. 
16 ;  I  Corinthians  i.  2  ;  Acts  xxvi.  18  ; 
I  Corinthians  vi.  II  ;  Hebrews  ii.  ii  ; 
Hebrews  x.  10,  14  ;  i  Corinthians  i.  30  : 
I  Thessalonians  iv.  3,  4;  2  Thessalonians 
ii.  13;    I  Peter  i.  2. 


HOLY  LIVING  OR  SELF  EX- 
AMINATION. 

Am  I  now  living  in  the  favor  of  God  ? 
2  Cor.  vi.  2;  Rom.  viii.  15,  16. 

Am  I  going  on  to  holiness?  2  Petei 
iii.  18. 

•Do  I  intentionally  aim  to  please  God 
in  all  things?  Psa.  Ixvi.  18;  i  Sam.  ii.  3. 

Am  1  cultivating  a  constant  sense  of 
the  presence  of  God?     Gen.  xvi.  13. 

Do  I  read  and  love  the  Scriptures 
more  than  any  other  book  ?     Psa.  i.  2. 

Do  I  anxiously  redeem  the  time  ?  Eph. 
V.  15,  16. 

Do  I  study  not  to  be  conformed  to 
this  world?     Rom.  xii.  2. 

Do  I  regtilarly  and  faithfully  examine 
myself.     2  Cor.  xiii.  5. 


196 


NOTES   FOR   3IBLE    READINGS. 


Do  I  meditate  much  upon  the  joys  of 
heaven  ?     Col.  iii.  1-3. 

Do  I  live  in  the  spirit  of  prayer  ?  Eph. 
vi.  18. 

Do  I  deny  myself  for  Clirist's  sake  ? 
Mark  viii.  34. 

Do  I  love  my  Saviour  Christ  with  all 
my  heart  ?     Matt.  xxii.  37. 

Is  the  reproach  of  Christ  dearer  to 

me  than  the  applause  of  the  world  ? 
Heb.  xi.  24-26. 

Do  I  set  my  affections  upon  things 
above  ?     Matt.  vi.  21.    • 

Do  I  delight  more  to  obtain  poverty 

of  spirit  than  the  riches  of  this  world  ? 
Mark  viii.  35-38. 

Am  I  constantly  employed  for  God  ? 
John  ix.  4. 

Would  I  rather  die  than  sin  ?  Matt. 
V.  29. 

Am  I  increasing  in  spiritual  minded- 
ness  ?     Matt.  v.  6. 

Do  I  delight  in  God  more  than  I  ever 
did  ?     Psa.  xxxvii.  4. 

Am  I  dying  daily  to  sensible  objects, 
and  living  for  eternity  ?    2  Cor.  iv.  17, 18. 

Is  the  thought  of  death  pleasing  and 
comforting  to  me?     Phil.  i.  23. 

Is  it  a  part  of  my  study  ".o  accomplish 

much  for  God  in  a  little  time  ?     2  Tim. 
iv.  2,  6.  8. 

Are  my  tastes  and  dispositions  more 
heavenly  than  formerly  ?      Ps,  xxxiv.  8. 

Do  I  relish  religious  conversation 
most  ?     Mai.  iii.  i5. 

Do  I  love  best  the  company  of  the 
pious  ?     Psa.  xvi.  2,3. 

Do  I  seek  opportunities  of  gaining 
and  doing  good  ?     i  Cor.  x.  33. 

Am    I    afraid   of    misemploying    my 

talents?     Matt.  xxv.  16,  19,  21. 

Do  I  exercise  all  my  influence  for 
God?     Psa.  ci. 

Am  I  carefully  solicitous  as  to  my  ex- 
ample?    Matt.  v.  16. 

Do  I  reprove  sin  without  respect  of 
persons?     Psa.  cxli.  5 ;  Eph.  v.  11. 

Am  1  doing  all  in  my  power  to  save 
souls  ?     Jer.  ix.  i  ;  Psa.  cxvi.  12. 

Do  I  regularly  pray  for  the  prosperity 
of  the  church,  and  ^he  conversion  of  the 
world?     Pse.  xxvin.  q  :   Matt.  ix.  36-38. 

Do  I  leave  nothing  undone  to  promote 


Christ's  kingdom    upon   earth?     Matt, 
xxv.  29,  30. 

Have  my  last  days  been  my  best 
days?     Psa.  xc.  12. 

Have  I  that  faith  in  Christ  which 
realizes  a  present  salvation  ?  2  Cor.  xiii.  5. 

Have  I  that  love  to  God  which  ccjn- 
strains  to  obedience?     2  Cor.  v.  14,  15, 

Does  the   Spirit  of    God  bear  testi- 
mony to  my  acceptance  with  him  ?  Rom 
viii.  16. 

Am  I  sowing  to  the  flesh,  or  to  the 
Spirit  ?     Gal.  vi.  7,  8. 

Do  I  grow  in  grace  and  in  the  know- 
ledge of  Christ  Jesus?     2  Pet.  iii.  18. 

Do  I  love  the  Sabbaths  and  ordinances 
of  God?     Psa.  xxvi.  18. 

Am  I  never  absent  from  the  house  of 
God  when  I  could  be  present  ?  Psalm 
cxxii.  I. 

Do  I  visit  and  pray  with  the  sick,  the 
poor,  and  the  destitute?    Job  xxix.'  11-16. 

Do  I  cultivate  a  spirit  of  deep  hu- 
mility ?     I  Pet.  V.  5,  6  ;  Matt.  v.  3. 

Do  I  study  to  understand  the  word  of 
God?    John  v.  39. 

Do  I  carefully  heed  the  voice  of  con- 
science?    2  Cor.  i.  12. 

Do  I  watchfully  guard  against  light- 
ness of  spirit?     I  Pet.  iv.  7. 

Do  I  always  bear  in  mind  my  final 
account  ?     Luke  xvi.  2. 

Am  I  dafly  living  in  the  spirit  of  sac- 
rifice?    Rom.  xii.  i. 

Do  I  watch  in  the  world  for  moments 
of  inward  communion  with  God  ?  Psa. 
iv.  4  ;  xvi.  8. 

Do  I  always  attend  to  the  inward 
monitions  of  the  Holy  Spirit?  Eph.  iv.30. 

Do  I  always  remember  the  omnisci- 
ence of  God  ?     Psa.  cxxxix.  1-12. 

Do  I  carefully  abstain  from  speaking 
or  hearing  evil  of  others  ?  Psa.  xv.  1-3  , 
James  iv.  11. 

Have  I  done  anything  this  day  to  save 
souls  from  death  ?    James  v.  19,  20. 

Were  I  sure  of  dying  this  day,  what 
should  I  immediately  do?  Isa.  xxxvii:. 
I  ;  Amos  iv.  12. 


NOTES   FOR   BIBLE   READINGS. 


197 


HEAVEN. 

Heaven  is  our  Father's  house.  John 
xiv.  2 ;  Isaiah  Ixiii.  15 ;  ist  clause  i 
Kings  viii.  30  ;  Matt.xxiii.g  ;  vi.g  ;  vii.ii. 

The  home  of  Jesus.  Whence  He 
came,   John  iii.  13  ;  vi.38. 

Whither  He  has  returned.  John  xx. 
17  ;  Acts  iii.  21 ;  Heb.  ix,  24. 

Whence  He  shall  come  again,  i  Thess. 
i.  10 ;  iv.  16. 

The  place  from  which  the  Spirit 
proceeds.  John  i.  32  ;  Acts  ii.  2  ;  i 
Peter  i.  12. 

The  source  of  all  earthly  good.  John 
iii.  27  ;  Tames  i.  17. 

The  future  abode  of  all  believers. 
John  xiv.  2,3:2  Cor.  v.  i  ;   Heb,  xi.  10. 

The  blessedness  of  heaven  consists 

In  freedom  from  sin.  Psalm  xvii.  15  ; 
1  John  iii.  2  ;  Rev.  xxi.  27. 

Freedom  from  pain  and  sorrow.  Rev. 
vii.  15-17  ;  xxi.  4. 

In  being  with  Jesus.  John  xii.  26 ; 
Phil.  i.  23  ;  I  Thess.  iv.  17. 

Seeing  His  glory.  John  xvii.  24  ; 
Rev.  xxii.  4. 

Receiving   His   reward.     Matt.  v.  12. 

This  reward    is  represented    as 

An  inheritance.  Acts  xxvi.  18;  Col. 
i.  12  ;  I  Peter  i.  4  ;  Rev.  xxi.  7. 

A  prize.     Phil.  iii.  14. 

A  rest.     Heb.  iv.  9  ;  Rev.  xiv.  13. 

A  kingdom.  Matt.  xxv.  34  ;  Luke 
xxii,  29,  30. 

A  crown,     i  Cor.  ix.  25  ;  James  i.  12; 

Rev.  ii.   10,  last  clause ;  2  Tim.  iv.  8 
1  Peter  v.  4. 

Fulness  of  knowledge,     i  Cor.  xiii.12. 

Fulness  of  life.     Matt.  xxv.  46. 

Fulness  of  joy.     Psalm  xvi.  11. 

Christians  should  rejoice  because  their 
iiames  are  now  written  in  heaven. 
Luke  X.  20  ;  Heb.  xii.  23. 

Strive  to  lay  up  treasure  there.  Matt, 
vi.  19,  20  ;  Luke  xii.  33. 


KINGDOM     OF     GOD— KINGDOM 
OF   HEAVEN. 

To  be  sought  for.  Matt,  vi,  33  ;  Luke 
xii.  31  ;  Matt.  vi.  9,  10  ;  Luke  xi.  2. 

Its  nature.  John  xviii.  36;  Luke  xvii. 
21  ;  I  Cor.  iv.  20 ;  Luke  xviii.  29,  30  ; 
Rom.  xiv.  17. 

Hidden  to  some.  Matt.  xiii.  11 ; 
Mark  iv.  11  ;  Luke  viii.  10 


Its  approach.     Luke  xvii.  20 ;  Matt. 

xxiv.  14;  Luke   xix.   11;  xxii.    16,    18  ; 

Matt.   xxvi.  29 ;    Mark  xiv.  25 ;    Matt, 
xxi.   31. 

Who  enter.  Matt.  vii.  21  ;  v.  19,  20; 
xix.  24;  Gal.  V.  19,  21  ;  Eph.  v.  5  ;  i 
Cor.  vi.  9,  10 ;  James  ii.  5  ;  Matt.  v.  3, 
10;  Luke  X.  20;  Mark  x.  14,  15;  Acts 
xiv.  22  ;  Matt.  xvi.  19. 

Similitudes.      Matt,    xiii.,   xviii..   xx. 
xxii.,  xxv  ;  Mark  iv  ;  Luke  xiii.,  xix., etc. 

Warnings.     Matt.  xxi.  43  ;   Luke  xiii. 

28,  29;  Matt.  viii.  11,  12  ;  Luke  ix,  62  ; 

Matt.  xxi.  31,  32;  xviii.    1-4;   John   iii. 

3.    5- 

Exhortation,  i  Thess.  ii.  11,  12;  2 
Peter  i.  10,  1 1  ;  Heb.  xii.  28. 


THE  FELICITY  OF  HEAVEN. 

Heaven  is  not  aU  unknown  ;  some- 
thing is  revealed.  We  can  here  only 
refer  to,  without  stopping  to  explain, 
certain  passages  of  Scripture  which 
describe  it,  and  give  the  substance  of 
them.  It  will  consist  of  the  moral 
perfection  of  the  soul. 

Its  perfect  knowledge,     i  Cor.  xiii.12. 

Its  perfect  holiness.     Eph.  v.  27. 

Its  perfect  love,     i  John  iv.  17. 

Its  perfect  likeness  to  Christ,  i  John 
iii.  2. 

The  physical  perfection  of  the  body 
in  incorruptibility,  immortality,  glory, 
and  spirituality,     i  Cor.  xv.  42-44. 

The  presence  of  God  in  the  full 
manifestation  of  His  glory.     Rev.xxii.4. 

The  beatific  vision  of  Christ.  John 
xvii.  24  ;  I  Thess.  iv.  17,  18. 

The  society  of  angels  and  all  the 
redeemed.     Heb.  xii.  22-24. 

The  joint  worship  of  the  heavenly 
hosts.     Rev.  iv.  5-1 1. 

The  perfect  service  of  Christ  without 
interruption,  imperfection,  or  cessation. 
Rev.  xxii.  3. 

Complete  freedom  from  pain,  toil, 
hunger,  thirst,  anxietv,  fear,  sorrow,  and 
death.     Rev.  vi.  1.5-17  ;  xxi.  4. 

Such  are  the  substantials  of  heavenly 
felicit}-.  Take  any  one  of  them  by 
itself  and  each  is  heaven  ;  and  taking 
them  all  together,  what  a  heaven — how 
pure,  how  elevated,  how  felicitous.  To 
believe  them  is  nearly  all  we  can  do,  and 
wait  for  their  meaning  hereafter. 

J.  A.  Tames. 


1 98 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


DAYS  OF   HEAVEN    UPON    THE 
EARTH. 

(Deut.  xi.  21.) 

What  the  Christian's  life  now  should  be 

and  may   be. 

1.  We  may  A^r^  enjoy  the  certainty  of 
the  right  of  entrance  into  heaven.  John 
iv.  24  ;  Rev,  xxii.  14.  "Do  His  com- 
mandments^' is,  in  the  original,  "have 
washed  their  robes." 

2.  '*  Believing  on  Him" — "our  robes 
washed" — "we  give  thanks  to  the  Fath- 
er, who  hatk  made  us  meet  to  be  partak- 
ers of  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in 
light."     Col,  i.  12,  13.     . 

3.  With  Christ  received,  the  Holy 
Spirit  makes  us  ' '  new  creatures"  in  de- 
sires, hopes,  and  practice.  2  Cor.  v.  17; 
Rev.  xxi.  4.     And  we  enjoy  now  what 

we  look  forward  to  above,   all    centered 
in  the  Lord  Jesus  Himself. 

4.  Thejt  '*  the  Lamb  shall  feed  them." 
Rev.  vii.  17  ;  Psa.  xxxvi.  8. 

5.  Now,  "I  am  the  Bread  of  life  ;  he 
that  cometh  to  Me  shall  never  hunger." 
John  vi.  35  ;  X,  9  ;  Psa.  xxiii.  2,  5. 

6.  Then   "  the  Lamb  shall  lead  them 

unto  living  fountains  of  waters."     Rev. 
vii.  17  ;  Psa.  xxxvi.  8. 

7.  Now,  "  Whosoever  drinketh  of  the 
water  that  I  shall  give  him  shall  never 
thirst."    John  iv.  10,  14  ;  Rev.  xxi.  6. 

9.  Then,   "  we  shall"  join  in  the  "new 

song"  of  redemption  and  cleansing.  Rev. 
xiv.  3  ;  V.  9. 

8.  Now  we  may  begin  that  same  "new 

song"    of  praise    for   present   salvation. 
Psa.  xl.  3  :  xcviii.  i,  2, 

10.  Then  they  '•^follow  the  Lamb 
whithersoever  He  goeth."     Rev.  xiv.  4. 

11.  Now,  "  Be  ye  followers  of  God, 
as  dear  children."  "Follow  thou  Me." 
"  Caleb  followed  Me  fully."  Eph.  v.  i ; 
John  xxi.  22  ;  Num.  xiv.  24. 

12.  Then  "His  servants  shall  serve 
Him" — "  day  and  night  in  His  Temple." 
Rev.  xxii.  3  ;  vii.  15. 

13.  A^o-iv,  "the  servants  of  Christ, 
doing  the  will  of  God  from  the  heart." 
"Ye  serve  the  Lord  Christ."  Eph.  vi. 
6  ;  Col.  iii.  24  ;  John  xii.  26  ;  Psa. 
cxxxiv.    I. 


14.  Then  "  His  name  shall  be  in  thei» 
foreheads."     Rev.  xxii.  4. 

15.  Here  ^'manifestly  declared  to  be 
the  epistle  of  Christ."  "Called  Chris- 
tians,^*   2  Cor.  iii.  3  ;  Acts  xi.  26  ;  iv.  13, 

16.  Then  "the  Lamb  is  the  Light 
thereof."     Rev.  xxi.  23. 

17.  Now  "I  am  the  Light  of  the 
world  ;  he  that  followeth  Me  shall  not 
walk  in  darkness,  but  shall  have  the 
Light  of  Life."  John  viii.  I2  ;  Eph.  v. 
8,   II. 

18.  Then  ♦*  in  Thy  presence  is /«/«<?«: 
of  joy."     Psa.  xvi.  11. 

19.  Now,  "  These  things  have  I  spok- 
en unto  you,  that  My  joy  might  remain: 
in  you,  and  that  your  joy  might  be  full.*' 
John  XV.  II  ;  xvii.  13  ;  i  Thes.  v.  16. 

20.  Then  all  enemies  destroyed  :  per- 
fect peace,  for  He  is  owned  as  "King  oi 
kings,   and  Lord  of  lords."     Rev.  xix.  6. 

21.  Now,  "Thou  wilt  keep  him  irt 
perfect  peace  whose  mind  is  stayed  iiip 
Thee."  Isa.  xxvi.  3  ;  xlviii.  18  ;  Johre 
xiv.  27. 

22.  Then  "they.. rest  from  their  la- 
bours." "There  remameth  a  rest  to  the 
people  of  God."    Rev.  xiv.  13;  Heb.  iv.9. 

23.  Now  "  we  which  have  believed  do 
enter  into  rest."  Come  unto  Me,  ..and 
I  will  give  you  rest."  Heb.  iv.  3  ;  Matt., 
xi.  28. 

24.  Then  it  is  round  Him — Jesus  Him- 
self— the  grand  ingathering  is.  The 
Lamb  in  the  midst."  Rev.  vii.  9,  17  ; 
Gen.  xlix.  lO. 

25.  Now,  it  \s  in  His  Name  we  meet 
— His  name  our  link — "Jesus  in  the 
midst."     John  xx.  19,  26 ;  Matt,  xviii.  20f 

26.  T/^^«  the  central  joy  is,  "they  shall^ 
see  His  face.**  Rev.  xxii.  4  ;  Job  xix. 
26,  27. 

27.  Now ''v/e  see  Jesus.**  "Looking 
unto  Jesus."  I  have  set  the  Lord  always 
before  me."  Heb.  ii.  9  ;  xii.  2  ;  Psa. 
xvi.  8. 

28.  Then  the  result  of  seeing  Him.  is — 
"  we  shall  be  like  Him,  for  we  shall  see 
Him  as  He  is."      1  Tohn  »ii.  2- 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


199 


29.  Now  the  result  is  the  same — "  we 
. .  be/wlding,  are  changed  into  the  same 
image."     2  Cor.  iii.  18. 

30.  Then  the  crowning  joy  of  all  will 
be  His  eternal,  unclouded  presence. 
"God  Himself  shall  be  with  them."  '■'  So 
shall  we  ever  be  with  the  Lord  !"  Rev. 
xxi.  3  ;   I  Thes.   iv.  17  ;  John  xvii,  24. 

31.  Now  we  may  enjoy  and  live  in 
that  same  joy.  "  Lo  I  am  with  you 
ALWAY."  Matt,  xxviii.  20;  Heb.  xiii. 
5,6. 

"  Thy  will  be  done  on  earth,  AS  IT  is 
in  Heaven  !" 

"  Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ?" 
"  Our  sufficiency  is  of  God."  2  Cor.  ii. 
16  ;  iii.  5.  F.    . 


PRAYER. 

Jas.  i,  17;  Matt.  vii.  7;  Matt.  vii.  8  ; 
Psalm  cxxi.  i,  2. 

Who  may  pray.  Matt.  xi.  28  ;  Rev. 
xxii.  17  ;  Acts  ii.  21 ;  Psalm  Ixv.  2  ; 
Ixxxvi.  5. 

How  to  pray.  Ecc,  v.  2 ;  Psalm 
ix.  12  ;  Heb.  xi.  6 ;  Rom.  viii.  26 ;  James 
v.  16  ;  Matt.  xxvi.  39  ;  Mark  xi.  25,  26  ; 
Dan.  ix.  4.  5  ;  Phil.  iv.  6  :  John  xiv.  14 ; 
Eph.  vi.  18  ;  Matt.  vi.  g,  13. 

When  to  pray.      Psalm  1  v.  17;  Isaiah 

xxvi.    9  ;    Col.    iv.    2 ;    I    Thess.  v.  17  ; 

Psalm  1.  15  ;  Luke  xviii.  i ;  Isaiah  Iv.  6; 
2  Cor.  vi.  2. 

Encouragements  to  pray.    Psalm  cxlv. 

18,    19 ;  Isaiah   Ixv.    24 ;  Rom,   x.    12  ; 

Matt,  xviii.  9 ;  Matt.   vii.  8 ;   i   Chron. 

xxviii.  9  ;  Heb.  x.  22,  23 ;  John  xvii  ;  ix. 
20  ;  Heb.  vii.  25. 

Answered  prayers.     Exodus  xvii.  5,6 ; 

I  Kings  xviii.  38,  39  ;  James  v.  17,  18. 


PRAYER. 

1.  Remember  whatever  we  pray  for 
should  interest  and  deeply  concern  us. 

Examples:  Gen.  xxxii.  9-12,24,26; 
I  Sam.  i.  ID ;  Dan.  ii.  17,  i8  ;  Dan.  ix. 
17-20  ;  Matt.  XV.  22,  25  ;  Luke  viii.  24, 
41 ;  Matt.  xxvi.  38. 

2.  We  must  feel  that  of  ourselves  we 
are  utterly  unable  to  accomplish  what 
we  want. 


Examples  :  Psa.  cxxiv.  2  ;  Dan.ii.  18  ; 
Matt.  viii.  24  ;  Jno.  xv.  5. 

3.  We  must  feel  that  God  is  interested 
and  concerned  in  what  interests  and 
concerns  us. 

Examples:  Gen.  xxi.  12-20;  Psalm 
cxlvi.  7,  8,  9  ;  Psa.  cxlvii.  9  ;  Matt.  vi. 
28  ;  I  Tim.  ii.  3,4;!  Peter  v,  6,  7. 

4.  We  must  feel  that  God  is  able  to 
do  all  we  ask  of  Him. 

Examples:  Jer.  xxxii.  17,  18;  Mark 
ix.  19  ;  Matt.  xix.  26. 

,5.  We  must  feel  that  God  is  acce^.'.hle 
or  open  to  receive  us. 

Examples  :  Eph.  ii.  11-13  ;  Matt. xi. 28. 
John  vi.  37.  J.  C.  Douglass. 


JESUS    THE    MAN    OF   PRAYER. 

1.  At  baptism  :  while  praying  Holy 
Ghost  came  upon  Him.     Luke  iii. 21-22. 

2.  After  He  had  healed  many  sick. 
Mark  i.  35. 

3.  When  His  fame  spread  and  multi- 
tudes came  to  hear.     Luke  v.  16. 

4.  When  enemies  sought  to  destroy 
Him  and  before  appointing  disciples. 
Luke  vi.  2-12. 

5.  When  He  had  fed  5,000.  Mark 
xiv.  21-23. 

6.  When  praying  alone,  told  His 
disciples  He  must  be  rejected  and  slain. 
Luke  ix.  18. 

7.  When  He  was  transfigured.  Luke 
ix.  28. 

8.  At  the  grave  of  Lazarus.  Johnxi.41. 

9.  When  He  taught  His  disciples  to 
pray.     Luke.  xi.  i. 

10.  When  His  soul  was  troubled. 
John  xii.  27, 

1 1 .  When  about  to  leave  His  disciples 
in  a  world  of  tribulation.    John  xvii. 

12.  In  the  garden  of  Gethsemane. 
Matt.  xxvi.  36. 

13.  For  His  malefactors.  Luke 
xxiii.    34. 

14.  Jesus  resigned  His  breath  in 
prayer.     Luke  xxiii.  46. 

POSITIONS  IN  PRAYER. 

The  publican,  standing  ;  Job,  sitting, 
Joi  ii.  8  ;  Hezekiah,  lying  on  his  bed, 
2  Kings  XX.  2  ;  Elijah,  with  his  face 
between  his  legs,  i  Kings  xviii.  42  ;  Paul 
kneeling,  Eph.  iii.  42.  Fuller. 


200 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE   READINGS. 


PRAYER. 

ITymn.  What  a  friend  we  have  in 
Jesus. 

Model.     Matt.  vi.  9-13. 

Commanded.  Isaiah  Iv.  6  ;  Matt.  vii. 
7  ;  Phil.  iv.  6. 

Offered  through  Christ.  Eph.  ii.  18  ; 
Heb.  X.  19. 

In  faith..    Heb.  x.  22. 

In  full  assurance  of  faith.     Heb.xi.6. 

With  confidence  in  God.     John  v.  14. 

With  boldness.     Heb.  iv.  16. 

Watchfulness.     Luke  xxi.  36. 

With  obedience.     John  ix.  31. 

Shortness  of  time  a  motive,   i  Pet.iv.7. 

Christ  present.     Matt,  xviii.  20. 

God's  willingness  to  give.  Matt.vii.ii. 

Paul  and  Silas.      Acts.  xvi.  25. 

Without  ceasing,     i  Thess.  v.  17. 

Hymn.  Prayer  is  the  soul's  sincere 
desire.  W.  H.  Grimes,  M.A. 


PRAYER. 

Call  upon  Him.     Isaiah  Iv.  6. 

Lifting  up  holy  lands,     i  Tim.  ii.  8. 

I  will  be  enquired  of.     Ezek.xxxvi.37. 

I  am  poor  and  needy.    Psalm  Ixxxvi.i. 

He  besought  the  Lord,  2  Chron. 
xxxiii.    12,  13. 

In  my  name.     John  xvi.  23. 

The  Spirit  helpeth,     Rom.  viii,  26. 

When  ye  pray,  say.     Luke  xi.  1-4. 

According  to  His  will,    i  John  v.  1 4-15. 

Let  us  come  boldly.     Heb.  iv.  16. 

In  everything.     Phil.  iv.  6. 

Ought  always  to  pray.  Luke  xviii.  i; 
Eph.  vi.  18. 

PRAYER 

Call  upon  Me  in  the  day  of  trouble  : 
I  will  deliver  thee.     Psalm  1.  15. 

Open  thy  mouth  wide,  and  I  will  fill 
it.     Psalm  Ixxxi.  10. 

The  Lord  is  nigh  unto  all  them  that 
call  upon  Him,  to  all  that  call  upon  Him 
in  truth.     Psalm  cxlv.  18. 

Then  shalt  thou  call,  and  the  Lord 
shall  answer:  thou  shalt  cry,  and  He 
shall  say,  here  I  am.     Isaiah  Iviii.  9. 

I  sought  the  Lord,  and  He  heard  me, 
and  delivered  me  from  all  my  fears. 
Psalm  xxxiv.  4. 

I  love  the  Lord  because  He  hath 
heard  my  voice  and  my  supplications. 
Psalm  cxvi.  i. 

In  the  day  when  I  cried,  Thou 
answeredst  me.     Psalm  cxxxviii.  3. 

Seek  ye  the  Lord  while  He  may  be 
found,  call  ye  upon  Him  while  He  is 
near.     Isaiah  Iv.  6. 


EXCEEDING   GREAT  AND 
PRECIOUS  PROMISES. 
The  following  are  some  of  the  exceed- 
ing great  and  precious  promises  (i  Peter 
i.  4)   given  by  our  Everlasting  Father 
(Isa.  ix.   6)   for  the  comfort,    stability, 
and  security  of  all  that  believe  on  Jesus ' 
to  everlasting   life    (John   v.   24),    and 
which  are  mentioned   in  the  Word  of 
God  as  being  Everlasting : — 

Everlasting  Love.     Jer.  xxxi.  3. 

Everlasting  Salvation.     Is.  xlv.  17. 

Everlasting  Righteousness.  Psalm 
cxix.  142. 

Everlasting  Covenant.  Isaiah  Iv.  3  ; 
2  Sam.  xxiii.  5. 

Everlasting  Kindness,     Is.  liv.  8. 

Everlasting  Joy.  Is.xxxv.  10;  Is.  li.ii. 

Everlasting  Consolation.  2  Thess. 
ii.  16, 

Everlasting  Way.     Ps.  cxxxix.  24. 

Everlasting  Remembrance.  Psalm 
cxii,  6. 

Everlasting  Sign.     Is.  Iv.  13. 

Everlasting  Children.     E,ph.  i.  4.  5. 

Everlasting  Life.     John  vi.  47. 

Everlasting  Light.     Is.  Ix.  ig,  20. 

Everlasting  Mercy.  Ps.ciii.  17;  cvi.i. 

Everlasting  Arms.     Deut.  xxxiii.  27. 

Everlasting  Strength.     Is.  xxvi,  4. 

Everlasting  Kingdom.  2  Peter  i.  1 1  ; 
Ps.  cxiv.  13. 

Everlasting  Testimonies.  Ps.  cxix.  144. 

Everlasting  Word.     Isaiah  xl.  8, 

Everlasting  God.  Ps.  viii.  23 ;  Ps.  xc.2. 

"  Jesus  Christ  the  same  yesterday,  and 
to-day,  and  forever."     Hebrews  xiii.  8 


PROMISES. 

Whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in  my  name, 
&c.,  &c. — ^John  xiv.  13. 

If  ye  shall  ask  anything,  &c. — ^John 
xiv.  14;  John  XV.  7  ;  John  xv.  16 ;  John 
xvi.  23,  24 ;  Matthew  vii.  7  ;  Matthew 
xxi.  22  ;  I  John  iii.  22  ;  i  John  v,  14, 15. 


PROMISES. 

John  xvi.  23,  24  ;  John  xiv.  2,  3  ;  John 
v.  24 ;  John  i.  12 ;  i  John  i.  8,  9  ;  Rev. 
xiv.  13  ;  Ezekiel  xxxvi.  26,  27 ;  Rom. 
vi.  23  ;  John  ix.  31. 

Whatever  ye  shall  ask  in  my  name, 
&c.,  &c.    John  xiv.  13. 

If  ye  shall    ask  anything,  &c.     John 
xiv.  14;  John  XV.  7;  John  xv.  16;  John 
xvi.  23,  24  ;  Matt.  vii.  7  ;  Matt.  xxi.  22 
I  John  iii.  22  ;  i  John  v.  14,  15. 


NOTES   FOK    BliiLh-    ixi:.ADli\Gi>. 


20 1 


_^ux^i..Y  PROMISES. 

a.  Peace.     John  xiv.  27. 

:2.  The  Comforter      John  xiv.  26. 

3.  Will  never  leave.     Heb.  xiii.  5. 

4.  All  things  are  ours,      i  Cor.  iii.  21. 

5.  I  will  be  your  God.     2  Cor.  vi.  16. 

6.  Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway.  Matt, 
."xxviii.  20. 

7.  The  Lord  knoweth  them  that  are 
His.     2  Tim.  ii.  19. 

8.  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you. 
John  xiv.  2. 

9.  Where  I  am,  there  shall  My  ser- 
•vant  be.     John  xii   26. 

10.  And  whosoever  liveth  and  be- 
•lieveth  in  Me  shall  never  die.  John  xi.26. 

11.  Who  of  God  is  made  unto  us 
Wisdom,  Righteousness,   Sanctification, 

.  J  Redemption,     i  Cor.  i.  30. 

12.  All  the  promises  of  God  are  yea, 
and  Amen,  in  Christ  Jesus.  2  Cor.  1.  20. 

He  is  faithful  that  promised.  Heb. 
X.  23. 

What  He  hath  promised.  He  is  able 
c-also  to  perform.     Kom.  iv.  21. 

"ALL." 

All  the  promises  of  God  in  Him, 

'^nr.  i.  20. 

Forgiveth  all  thine  iniquities,  Psalm 
.uiii,  3. 

Cleanseth  from  all  sin,  i  John  i.  7. 

Casting  all  your  care  on  Him,  i  Pet, 
'V.  7. 

Count  it  all  joy,  James  1.  2. 

God  is  able  to  make  all  grace  abound 
".towards  you,  2  Cor,  ix.  8. 

All  things  are  yours,  i  Cor.  iii.  21. 

Freely  give  us  all  things,  Rom.  viii.  32. 

Able  to  quench  all  the  fiery  darts, 
JEph.  vi.  16. 

All  things  are  possible  to  him  that 
■  belie veth,  Mark  ix.  23. 

The  Lord  shall  preserve  thee  from  all 
'«vil,  Psa.  cxxi.  7. 

All  fair,  Song  iv.  7. 

All  came  to  pass,  Joshua  xxi.  45. 

That  He  might  redeem  us  from  all 
Iniquity.    Titus  ii.  14. 

JUSTIFICATION. 

We  are  justified  by  God,  the  author 
!of  it,  Rom.  iii.  26. 

We  are  justified  by  grace,  the  spring 
of  it,  Rom.  iii.  24. 

We  are  justified  by  blood,  the  ground 
of  it,  Rom.  V.  9. 

We  are  justified  by  resurrection,  the 
•acknowledgment  of  it,  Rom.  iv.  25. 

We  are  justified  by  faith,  the  prin- 
<:iple  of  it,  Rom.  v.  i. 


FROM  THE  MIDST  OF  THE 
CLOUD. 

The  law  given,  Ex.  xix.  9. 

Israel  guided,  Ex.  xiii.  21. 

God's  presence  revealed,  Ex.  xl.  34. 

In  the  cioud  Christ  transfigured,  Luke 
ix.  28. 

In  the  cloud  He  ascended.  Acts  i.  9. 

In  the  cloud  His  saints  shall  be  rapt, 

Thess.  iv.  17. 

In  tke  cloud  shall  return  with  saints. 
Rev.  i.  7. 


JUSTIFICATION. 
Before  God — By  Blood.  Heb.  ix. 
22.  No  remission,  without  shedding  of 
blood.  Lev.  xvii.  II.  The  life  is  in  the 
blood,  Ex.  xii.  13.  When  I  see  the 
blood,  Heb.  ix.  7-9.  High-priest  with 
blood,  a  figure,  Heb.  ix.  11,  12.  Christ 
by  His  own  blood.  Rom.  v.  9.  Justified 
by  His  blood.  Acts  xx.  28.  Purchased 
by  His  own  blood,  i  Pet.  i.  19.  Re- 
deemed with  precious  blood.  Col.  i.  20. 
Made  peace  through  blood  and  by  im- 
puted righteousness.  Isaiah  liii.  ii. 
By  his  knowledge  justify  many.  Isaiah 
liv.  17.     Their  righteousness  is  of  Me. 

Jer.  xxiii.  6.     The  Lord  our  righteous- 
ness. 

Realized  by  Faith.  —  Eph.  u.  ii. 
Not  of  yourselves  :  gift  of  God.  Rem. 
iii.  26.  Justifier  of  him  that  believeth- 
Acts  xiii.  39.  Justified  from  all  things. 
Rom.  V.  \.  Have  peace  with  God. 

Manifested  by  Works. — Eph.  ii.  10. 
His  workmanship.  Phil.  ii.  13.  God 
which  worketh  in  you.  Jas.  ii.  18,  24, 
26.  Show  faith  by  works.  Matt.  v.  16. 
Men  see  good  works :  glorify  Fathev. 
I  Pet.  ii.  9.  Show  forth  praises  of  Him 
who. has  called  you. 


JUSTIFICATION. 

I  Cor.  vi.  9-1 1. 

Who  are  justified — Rom.  ii.  13  ;  iii. 
20  ;  Psa.  xiv.  2,  3. 

How  obtained — Rom.  viii.  3-5  ;  2  Cor. 
v.  21 ;  James  ii.  21  ;  Rom.  iv.  2  ;  Gal. 
iii.  II,  24;  ii.  16;  Isaiah  liii,  11 ;  Rom. 
iii.  24,  26  ;  Titus  iii.  5-7  ;  Rom.  xL  6. 


2q: 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READING^.. 


BEING  JUSTIFIED. 
By  blood — we    have  salvation   from 
wrath,  Rom.  v.  9. 

By  faith — peace  with  God,  Rom.  v.  i. 
By  grace — heirs  of  heaven,  Titus  iii.  7. 
By  works — reward,  James  ii.  24. 

PARDON. 

Read  Luke  xv,  20-24. 
Pardon  promised.      Isa.  i.   18 ;   Jer. 
xxxi.  34  ;  Heb.  viii.  12  ;  Jer.  1.  20. 

No  pardon  without  shedding  of  blood. 
Lev.  xvii.  11  ;  Heb.  ix.  22. 

Legal  sacrifices  ineffectual.    Heb.  x.4. 

Outward  cleansing  ineflfectual.  Job 
IX.  30,  31  ;  Jer.  ii.  22. 

The  blood  of  Christ  alone  is  efficacious. 
Zech.  xiii,  i  ;  i  John  i.  7. 

Pardon  is  granted  by  God  alone.  Dan. 
ix,  9  ;  Mark  ii.  7. 

Through  the  blood  of  Christ.  Matt, 
xxvi.  28  ;  Rom.  iii.  25  ;  Col,  i.  14. 

According  to  the  riches  of  his  grace. 

Eph.  i.  7. 

Freely.     Isa.  xliii.  25. 

Readily.     Neh.  ix.  17 ;  Psa.  Ixxxvi,  5. 

Abundantly.     Isa.  Iv.  7 ;  Rom,  v.  20, 

Who  confess  their  sins.  2  Sam.  xii. 
13  ;  Psa.  xxxii.  5  ;  i  John  i.  9. 

BLOTTED  OUT. 

1.  Sinners  blotted  out.    Ex.  xxxii.  33. 

2.  Prayer  for  sins  to  be  blotted  out. 
Psalm  Ii.  1-9. 

3.  God  only  can  blot  out  sin.  Isaiah 
xliii.  25. 

4.  Repentance  and  conversion  neces- 
sary that  sins  may  be  blotted  out.  Acts 
iii.  19. 

5.  Sin  has  been  blotted  out.  Isaiah 
xliv,  22. 

6.  Sin  blotted  out  on  the  Cross. 
Col,  A.  14. 

7.  The  believer  not  blotted  out  of 
the  Book  of  Life.  Rev.  iii,  5.        S.R.B. 


PEACE. 
.  Isa.  xlv.  7  j  Job  xxii.  21  ;  Job  xxxiv. 
29 ;  Isa.  ix.  6-7 ;  John  xvi.  33  ;  Eph.  ii. 
14-17 ;  Rom.  v.  i  ;  Rom.  i.  7  j  Prov.  iii. 
17 ;  James  iii.  17-18  ;  Isa.  xxx.  15 ; 
Luke  vii.  50  ;  Heb.  xii.  14 ;  i  Pet,  v.14; 
Psalms  Ixxxv.  8  ;  Isa.  liv.  10;  xxxii.  17, 
18;  Phil.  iv.  9;  Isa.  liv.  13  ;  Psalms 
cxix.  165  ;  Isa.  xxvi.  3,  4  ;  Isa.  xlviii.18 ; 
John  xiv.  27 ;  Phil.  iv.  7 ;  i  Thess.  v. 
23  ;  2  Thess.  iii.  16. 


PEACE. 

Peace  with  God,  forgiveness  of  sinst. 
Rom.  V.  I. 

Peace  of  God,  God-like  peace.  PhiL. 
iv.  7. 

In  peace,  God-like  spirit.  2  Cor_ 
xiii.  II. 


A  PRECIOUS  THOUGHT. 

The  mainspring,  centre  and  source  is. 
Jesus.     I  Peter  ii.  6,  7. 

Precious  blood,     i  Peter  i.  19. 

Precious  faith.     2  Peter  i.  i. 

Precious  promises.  John  xiv.  3  ;  i,. 

iii.  21  ;  Matt.  xi.  28  ;  Mai.  iii.  17. 


PEACE. 
Reconciliation   with  God.      Satisfac- 
tion for  sin,  made  by  Christ  for  us  ;  and 
our  sense  of  it,  which  is  the  gift  of  God, 
wrought  in  us  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 

1 .  The  God  of  Peace.     Phil.  iv.  9. 

2.  Has    thoughts    of    Peace.      Jer.. 


Luke 


XXIX.    II. 

3.  Peace  announced  on  earth, 
ii.  14. 

4.  Peace  made  by  the  blood  of  Christ.. 
Col.  i   20. 

5.  The  chastisement  of    our    peace- 
was  upon  him.     Isa.  liii.  5. 

6.  In  Him  righteousness  and  peace 
kissed  each  other.     Psa.  Ixxxv.  10. 

7.  Proofs  of  peace .    John  xx.    19,20. 

8.  Peace  preached  by  the  Holy  Ghost.. 
Acts  X.  36;  Eph.  ii.  77 

9.  Christ  is  our  peace.     Eph,  ii.  14.- 

10.  Peace  comes  by  believing.    Rom  ' 
XV.  13. 

11.  It  follows  faith.     Rom.  v.  i. 

12.  Christ     maintains     our     peacfe,. 
PhiL  iv.  7 


BLESSED. 

1.  Blessed  is  he  whose  transgression- 

is  forgiven.     Psalm  xxxii   i. 

2 .  Blessed  is  he  that  considereth  the- 

poor.     Psalm  xii.  i 

3.  Blessed  is  he  that  waiteth.  Dan, 
xii    12 

4.  Blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in  the- 

name  of  the  Lord.     Matt.  xxi.  9. 

5.  Blessed  is  he  that  readeth    Rev.  i.  -.. 

6.  Blessed  is  he  that  blesseth  thee,, 
and  cursed  is  he  that  curseth  thee. 
Num.  xxiv.  9. 

7.  Blessed  is  he  that  watcheth.  Rev^ 
xvi.  15. 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


2C3 


THE  ASSURANCE  OF  THE 

WORLD,   OR  SEVEN  THINGS  THE 

WORLD  KNOWS  OF  CHRIST. 

HYPOCRITES. 

1.  We  know  that  thou  art  true. 

2.  We   know   that    thou    teachest   the 
way  of  God  in  tnith. 

3.  We  know   that   thou  neither  carest 
for  any  man.     Matt.  xxii.  16. 

SINCERE    SEEKERS. 

4.  W^e  know  that  thou   art   a  teacher 
come  from  God.     John  iii.  2. 

LIARS   AND  BLASPHEMERS. 

5.  We  know  whence  he  is,    (see  John 
ix.  29).     John  vii.  27. 

6.  We   know   that  thou   hast  a  deviL 
John  viii.  52. 

7.  We  know  that  this  man  is  a  sinner. 
John  ix.  24.  J.  McK. 


DELIVER. 

1.  Deliver  me  from  all  my  transgres- 
sions.    Ps.  xxxix.  8. 

2.  Deliver  me  from  the  hand  of  mine 
enemies.     Ps.  xxxi.  15. 

3.  Deliver  me  from  bloodguiltiness,  O 
God.     Ps.  li.  14. 

4.  Deliver  me  from  the  deceitful  and 
unjust  man.     Ps.  xliii.  i. 

5.  Deliver    me    from    evil    work.       2 
Tim.  iv.  18. 

6.  Deliver  me  from  the  oppression  of 
man.     Ps.  cxix.  134. 

7.  Deliver  me  from  the  body  of  this 
death.     Rom.  vii.  24. 


JOY  IN  HIM. 

Oh,  there  is  so  much  said  about  joy, 
for  God  has  given  us  such  a  portion  in 
Himself  as  the  heart  cannot  contain. 
Think  of  it  — Himself^  "  a  well  of  water 
springing  up  into  everlasting  life."  John 
iv.  14. 

Let  us  see  where  joy  is  to  be  with  us. 
The  source  is  above — in  the  Father,  the 
Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost.  It  flows 
down  and  springs  up  in  us  first  in  our 
soul.  "My  soul  shall  be  joyful  in  the 
Lord."  Ps.  XXXV.  9  ;  and  then  it  bursts 
forth  in  the  heart:  "My  servant  shall 
sing  for  joy  oi  hearth  Isa.  Ixv.  14;  then 
it  flows  out  in  praise.  ."My  mouth  shall 
praise  thee  with  joyful  /zj>j."  Ps.  Ixiii.  5  ; 
and  the  feet  are  strengthened  and  ' '  leap 


for  joy."  Luke  vi.  23,   and   "everlasting 
joy  is  on  their  heads."  Isa.  li.  11. 

It  does  not  cease  because  of  earth's- 
sorrows  and  troubles,  for  even  "the 
widow's  heart  sings  for  joy."     Job  xxix. 

13- 

"They  that  sow  in  tears  shall  reap  in 
joy,"  Ps.  cxxvi.  5  ;  and  He  gives  them 
"  the  oil  of  joy  for  mourning,"  Isa.  Ixi.  3. 
He  even  "turns  their  mourning  into- 
joy,"  Jer.  xxxi.  13.  The  Lord  Jesus, 
"for  \}a&  joy  that  was  set  before  Him, 
endured  the  cross,"  Heb.  xii  ;  and  there- 
fore tells  His  disciples  that  '■'■  their  sor- 
row shall  be  turned  into  joy,"  John  xvi. 
20.  All  this  because  our  joy  is  to  be  iit 
the  Lord,  and  not  in  self,  not  in  any- 
other. 


THE  JOY  OF  THE  LORD. 
"My     meditation    of   Him    shall    be 
sweet,"     such    was    my    experience    in 
meditating  of  "  The  Church  "  as  an  "  oc- 
casion ^i  joy  to  Christ.''* 

1.  Before  the  foundation  of  the  world, 
when,  as  in  the  counsels  of  His  own 
heart.  He  '■'■found  the  treasure ;  "  and  for 
joy  thereof  He  went  and  sold  all  that 
He  had  and  bought  it.    Matt.  xiii.  45,  46. 

2.  When  the  world  was  made,  He  re- 
joiced in  "the  habitable  part  of  the 
earth  ;  and  His  delights  were  with  the 
sons  of  men."     Prov.  viii. 

3.  When  He  finds  His  lost  sheep.  He 
lays  it  on  His  shoulders  rejoicing.  "  I 
have  meat  to  eat  that  ye  know  not  of."" 
John  iv.  32. 

4.  When  He  rejoices  in  the  obedience 
of  His  children.  "If  thine  heart  be 
wise,  my  heart  shall  rejoice,  even  mine.'*^ 
Prov.  xxiii.  15. 

5.  When  He  comes  for  us  it  will  be 
with  a  shout  of  joy  and  victory. 

6.  When  He  presents  us  to  the  Father 
it  will  be  with  exceeding  joy.     Jude  24. 

7.  At  the  marriage  supper.  "Let  us. 
be  glad  and  rejoice."     Rev.  xix.  7. 

8.  At  the  throne  of  glory.  "With 
gladness    and    rejoicing     shall    they    be- 


.•20/J. 


NOTliS    FOR    BIBLE    KEAU1NV-.5. 


brought ;  they  shall  enter  into  the  King's 
palace."     Ps.  xlv.  15. 

And  may  we  constantly  remember  that 
'  It  was  for  the  joy  set  before  Him,  He 
'endured  the  cross,  despisuig  the  shame, 
•  and  is  now  set  down  at  the  right  hand  of 
the  throne  of  God,"  Heb.  xii.  2.  And  as 
we  gaze  on  Him  now  "Crowned  with 
,glory  and  honour,"  may  our  gladsome 
hearts  (made  gladsome  by  Himself)  joy- 
fully sing,  "Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that 
was  slain." 


JOY. 

Isa.  Iv.   ia-13  ;  Eccl.  ii.  26  j  Psa.  iv. 

7  ;  Isa.  Ixi.  3  ;  Gal.  v.  22  ;  Lev.  ii.  10  ; 

Neh.  viii.  10,  li,  12  ;  Jer.  xv.  16  ;  Isa. 

XXXV.  10  ;  Isa.  Iv.  12  ;  Eccl.  ii.    lo-ii  ; 

Eccl.  xi.  8  ;  Isa.  xxix.  19  ;  Psa.  xvi.  11  ; 

Psa.  cxlix.  2  ;  Heb.  iii.  18  ;  Rom.  v.  11  ; 

Luke  i.  47  ;  Phil.  iii.  3  ;   Rom.  xiv.  17  ; 

Acts  viii.    5-8  ;  Ps.  xxxii.  11  ;  Luke  vi. 

53  ;  .1  Pet.  i.  18  ;  2  Cor.  vi.    10  ;  Phil. 

►iv.  4  ;   I  Thes.  v.   16;  Jas.  i.  2  ;  Jas.  v, 

13  ;  Eph.  V.   19  ;   John   xvii.   13  ;  Heb. 

3cii.  2  ;  3  John  iv. 

J.  W,  Dean. 

JOY. 

Reason  for  true  joy.     Luke  x.  20. 
Illustration.     Matt.  xiii.  44  ;  Acts  xiii. 

.52- 

End  of  the  world's  joy.      Pro.  xiv.  13. 
World's  joy  short  lived.     Job  xx.  4,  5. 
God's  joy  in  his  children.     Zeph.    iii. 
17  ;  Isa.  Ixii.  5. 


PRAISE -REJOICE. 

Is  good  and  comely.  Ps.  xxxiii.  1 ; 
•clxvii.  I. 

With  the  whole  soul.     Ps.  ciii.  i,  2. 

Continually.  Psa.  xxxv.  28  ;  i  Thess. 
v.  16. 

More  and  more.  Psa.  Ixxi.  14 ;  also 
•cxlv. 

Invite  others  to.  Ps,  xxxiv.  i,  3 ;  xcv. 
I,  2. 

For  present  salvation.  Isa.  xii ;  Luke 
i.  68,  69. 

For  all  spiritual  good.     Eph.  i.  3. 

For  all  temporal  good.  Psa.  xiii,  6  ; 
alfio  civ. 

In  affliction.  Acts  v.  41  ;  Acts  xvi. 
^5;  Rom.  V.  3-5  ;  Rom.  viii.  '^'^-■39 


WELLS.* 
1.  Wells  of  Scripture.  Gen.  xvi.  14  ; 
xxi.  30,  31  ;  2  Sam.  xxiii.  15  ;  Exod.  xv. 

27  ;  Deut.  vi.  11.  2.  Well-side  conver- 
sations. John  iv.  6  ;  Gen.  xxiv.  16,  17 ; 
Exod.  ii.  15-20  ;  Gen.  xxi.  25  ;  xxvi.  21. 
3.  Weariness  and  thirst.  John  iv.  6  ; 
Heb.  xii.  3  ;  Gal.  vi,  9  ;  Psa.  vi.  6  ;  xiii. 
1,  2.  4.  We  Is  without  water.  Jer.  xiv. 
3  ;  Zech.  ix.  11  ;  Jer.  ii.  I3  ;  2  Pet.  ii 
17.  5.  Wells  of  living  water.  Matt.  v. 
6  ;  John  iv.  lO  ;  Isa.  xii.  3  ;  John  vi. 
54-56.  6.  Water  from  the  Throne. 
Rev.  xxii.  1  ;  Ezek.  xlvii.  i  ;  Zech.  xiv. 
8;-  Psa.  xlvi.  4,  7.  Words  of  invitation. 
Isa.  Iv.  1  ;  John  vii.  37,  38  ;  Isa.  i.  18  : 
Rev.  xxi.  6  ;  xxii.  17. 

Rev.  J.  H,  Vincent,  D.  D. 


VINES.* 
I.  The  Vmes  of  Canaan.  Deut.  vi.  11 
viii.  8  ;  Num.  xiii,  23,  24  ;  i   Kings  iv 
39.     2.  The  Vine  of  Jehovah.    John  xv 

1,  5  ;  Isa.  iv.  2  ;  Jer.  xxiii.  5  ;  Zech.  iii. 
8 ;  vi.  12.  3.  Unfruitful  Branches.  Jno. 
XV.  2,  6  ;  Isa.  V.  4 ;  Matt.  xv.  13  ;  iii.  8; 
xiii.  22.     4.  Fruitful  Branches.  John  xv. 

2,  5  ;  Hos.  xiv.  8  ;  Phil.  i.  11  ;  Eph.  v. 
9  ;  Gal.  V.  22,  23.  5.  Branches  cast 
forth.  Matt.  iii.  10;  vii.  19  ;  Luke  xiii. 
7  ;  Heb.  vi.  8.  6.  The  Husbandman's 
Care.  John  xv.  i,  2  ;  Isa.  v.  i,  2  ;  Matt, 
xiii.  24  ;  xxi.  33  ;  Heb.  xii.  6.  7.  The 
Husbandman's  Glory.  John  xv.  8  ;  Mat. 
V.  16  ;  I  Pet.  ii.  12  ;  3  John  iv  ;  i  Pet. 
ii.  9. 

Rev.  J.  H,  Vincent,  D.  D. 

THINGS  WORTH  KNOWING. 

Our  state  by  nature.     Rom.  vii.  18. 

The  purpose  for  which  Christ  was 
manifested,     i  John  iii.  5. 

Christ  Himself,  Johnvi.  69,  the  wordi 
are  sure  should  have  been  rendered  kturui. 
John  X.  14  ;  2  Tim.  12. 

The  Holy  Spirit.     John  xiv.  17. 

God  the  Father.  John  xvii.  3 ;  I 
John  ii.  13. 

*From  Biblical  Explorations  by  Rev.  J.  H. 
Vincent,  D.  D,.  e  " ) 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


20  V 


The  grace  of  Christ.     2  Cor.  viii.  9». 

The  love  of  Christ.     Eph.  iii.  19. 

Christ  risen.  John  xxi.  12;  Rom.  vi. 
9;  2  Cor.  iv.  14. 

The  way  of  justification.      Gal.  ii,  16, 

That  we  have  passed  from  death  unto 
life.     I  John  iii.  14. 

That  our  old  man  was  crucified  with 
Christ.     Rom.  vi.  6. 

Our  election  of  God.     i  Thess.  i.  4. 

That  we  have  eternal  life,    i  John  v.  13. 

The  mysteries  of  Christ's  kingdom 
and  providence.  Matt.  xiii.  11  ;  John 
xiii.  7. 

That  tribulation    leads    to    patience 

and  experience  and  hope.     Rom.  v.  3. 

That  all  things  work  together  for  our 
good.     Rom.  viii.  28. 

That  if  death  comes  we  have  a  house 
in  heaven.     2  Cor,  v.  1,8. 

^That   resurrection  awaits   us.     John 
d.  24. 

That  in  the  last  days  perilous  times 
shall  come,  2  Tim.  iii.  1. 

That  the  day  of  the  Lord  cometh  as 

a  thief  in  the  night,     i  Thess.  v.  2. 

That  Christ  our  life  shall  appear. 
I  John  iii.  2. 

That  in  heaven  we  have  a  better 
substance  than  on  earth.     Heb.  x.  34. 

THINGS  WORTH  HAVING. 

Faith  in  God.      Mark  xi.  22. 
Everlasting   life.      John  iii.  36. 
The  light  of  life.     John  viii.  12. 
The  commandments  of  Jesus.    John 
xiv.  21. 

The  joy  of  Jesus,    John  xvii.  13. 
Hope  toward  God.      Acts  xxiv.  15. 
A  conscience  void  of  offence.    Acts 
xxiv.   16. 

Peace  with  God  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.     Rom.  v,  i. 

Access  by  faith  into  this  grace  wherein 
we  stand.     Rom,. v.  2. 

Fruit  unto  holiness.     Rom.  vi.  22. 
The   first  fruits  of  the  Spirit.     Rom. 
viii.  23. 

The  Holy  Ghost  which  is  in  us.  i 
Cor.  vi.  19. 

A  building  of  God.  2  Cor.  v.  i. 

God's  promises.     2  Cor  vii.  i. 

All  sufficiency.     2  Cor.  ix.  8. 

Redemption  through  the  blood  of 
Christ.      Ev.\.  :    7 


Access  by  one  Spirit  unto  the  Father.. 
Eph,  ii.  18. 

A  desire  to  depart  and  to  be  withr 
Christ.     Phil.  i.  23. 

The  same  love.     Phil.  ii.  2. 

Promise  of  the  life  that  now  is,  and 
of  that  which  is  to  come,     i  Tim.iv.8. 

A  great  high  priest.     Heb.  iv.  14. 

A  strong  consolation.    Heb.  vi.  18. 

Hope  as  an  anchor  of  the  souL 
Heb.  vi.  19. 

Boldness  to  enter  into  the  holiest.. 
Heb.  X.  19. 

Fellowship  with  Him.     i  John  i.  6. 

Fellowship  one  with  another.  I 
John  i.  7. 

An  advocate  with  the  Father.  l 
John   ii.    I. 

Boldness  in  the  day  of  judgment,  x 
John  iv.  17. 

The  petitions  that  we  desire  of  God.. 
I  John  V.  15. 

WHOSOEVER. 

Condemnation.  John  viii.  34  ;  Rom. 
ii.  I  ,  James  ii.  10 ;  i  John  ii.  23  ;  r 
John  iii.  4  ;  i  John  iii.  10  ;  2  John  9. 

Salvation,  John  iii.  16,  John  iv.  14; 
Luke  xii.  8;  Acts  x.  43  ;  Rom.  x.  11 ;  i 
John  V.  I  ;  Rev.  xxii.  17. 


1.  We 

2.  We 

3.  We 

4.  We 
viii.  14. 

5.  We 
viii.  24, 

6.  We 

7.  We 

8.  We 

9.  We 

10.  We 

11.  We 

12.  We 


WHAT  WE  ARE. 

are  born.     John  i.  12,  13, 
are  sons,     i  John  iii.  2. 
are  heirs.     Romans  viii.  17.  , 
are  led  by  the  Spirit.  Romans 

are  saved  by  (in)  hope.    Rom.- 

are  made  nigh.   Eph.  ii.  13. 
are  accepted.     Eph.  i.  6. 
are  washed,     i  Cor.  vi.  11. 
are  justified,     i  Cor.  vi,  11. 
are  sanctified,     i  Cor.  vi.  11.. 
are  complete  in  Him.  Col.ii.io. 
are  as  He  is.  i  John  iv.  17. 


WHAT  WE  HAVE. 

1.  We  have  redemption.     Eph.  i.  7. 

2.  W^e  have  eternal  life,   i  John  v.  13.. 

3.  We  have  peace  with  God.  Rom.v.i. 

4.  We  have  the  Spirit  of  adoption.. 
Rom.  viii.  15. 

5.  We  have  strong  consolation.  Heb. 
vi.  18, 

6.  We  have  the  first-fruits.     Romans 
viii.  23. 

7.  We   have   such   an   High    Priest. 
Heb.  viii.  i. 


206 


NOTES  FOR  3IBLE  READINGS. 


WHAT  WE  KNOW. 

1.  We  know  whom  we  have  believed. 
12.  Tim.  i.  12. 

2.  We  know  we  have   a  building  of 
•God.  2  Cor.  V.  I. 

3.  We    know    we    have    passed  from 
■death  unto  life,     i  John  iii.  14. 

4.  W^e  know  that  all  things  work  to- 
gether for  good.     Rom.  viii.  28. 

5 .  We  know  that  Christ  shall  appear. 
I  John  iii.  2. 


WHAT  WE  HAVE  NOT. 

1.  We  have  not  attained  unto  the 
resurrection  of  (or  from  among)  the 
dead.     Phil.  iii.  11. 

2.  We  have  not  apprehended  that 
for  which  we  are  apprehended  of  Christ 
Jesus. 

3.  We  are  not  already  perfect.  Phil, 
iii.  12. 

These  Scriptures  are  taken  in  con- 
nection with  Joshua  i.  3  and  xiii.  i ; 
-Gen.  xii.  7  ;  xiii.  14-17,  etc. 


LAW  AND  GRACE. 
John  i.  17. 

Law. — Exodus  ii.  12 ;  iii.  2-5  ;  iv. 
1-3;  iv.  6;  vii.  19-21;  x.  22;  xi.  4-6; 
xix.  16-21;  XX.  21,  25,  26;  xxxii.  28; 
Deut.  xxi.  18-21. 

Grace. — John  i.  4 ;  i.  14 ;  i.  43  ;  iii. 
16  ;  ii.  i-io  ;  ix.  5-38 ;  x.  10,  27-29  ;  xiii. 
i-io;  xiv.  6;  Actsii.  41 ;  Lukexv.  11-23. 

The  law  can  not  justify,  Acts  xiii.  39  ; 
nor  free  us  from  sin  and  death,  Rom. 
-viii.  1-3 ;  nor  give  righteousness,  Gal. 
ii.  21  ;  iii.  21 ;  nor  make  perfect,  Heb. 
vii.  19  J  X.  I,  2,  What  then  was  the 
purpose  of  the  law  ?  Rom.  iii.  19  ;  v. 
3.Q ;  Gal.  iii.  19. 


WHAT  WE  KNOW  NOT. 

1.  We    know    not    what    we     should 
pray  for  as  we  ought.     Rom.  viii.  26. 

2.  We  know  not  that  day  and    that 
hour.     Mark'xiii.  32. 

3.  We    know   not  what    a  day    may 
bring  forth.     Prov.  xxvii.  i. 


THINGS   WE  KNOW, 

1.  Romans  vii.  18,  our  depravity. 

2.  I  John  iii.  5,  Christ  our  Saviour. 

3.  I    Peter     i.     18,    19,     Redeemed, 
purchased. 

4.  Job  xix.  25,  Living,  InterceedPing, 
Advocate. 

5.  John  ix.  14;  I  John  iii.  14,  Experi- 
mental religion. 

6.  2  Timothy  i.  12,  able  to  keep. 

7.  Rom.  viii,  28,  God's  discipline  good. 

8.  2  Corinthiajis  v.  i,  a  home. 

I  John  V.  from  11.     The  seven  "we 
4cnows."  W.  R. 


ADOPTION. 
Eph.   ii.    I,   3-12  ;   Ezek.   xvi.   5,  6 ; 
Ezek.  xvi.  6,  9  ;  Jer.  iii.  19  ;  John  i.  12  ; 
Eph.  iv.  23,  24  ;   Eph.  v.  29,  30  ;   Rom. 
viii.  17  ;  2  Peter  i.  iv. 

HOURLY  ADMONITIONS. 

1.  Watch.     Mark  xiii.  37. 

2.  Be  sober,      i  Thes.  v.  6. 

3.  Pray  without  ceasing,   i  Thes.  v.  17. 

4.  Pray  for  one  another.     Jas.  v.  16.' 

5.  Bear  ye  one  another's  burdens.  Gal. 
\i.  2. 

6.  Set  your  affections  on  things  above. 
Col.  iii.  2. 

7.  And  be  not  conformed  to  this  world. 
Rom.  xii.  2. 

8.  Love  one  another  with  a  pure  heart 
fervently,     i  Pet.  i,  22. 

9.  Do  all  in  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus.     Col.  iii.  17. 

10.  Present  your  bodies  a  living  sacri- 
fice, holy,  acceptable  unto  God.  Rofn. 
xii.   I, 

11.  And  whatsoever  ye  do,  do  it  heart- 
ily as  to  the  Lord.     Col.  iii.  23. 

12.  Let  your  moderation  be  known 
unto  all  men.  The  Loid  is  at  hand. 
Phil.  iv.  5. 

Exhorting  one  another  daily,  and  so 
much  the  more,  as  ye  see  the  day  ap- 
proaching.    Heb.  X.  25. 


STEPS  IN  BACKSLIDING. 

1.  Neglect  of  secret  prayer.    Job  xv. 
4  ;  Isa.  xliii.  10. 

2.  Disregard  of  the  Bible.     Jer.  vi.  19; 
Hos.  iv.  6. 

3.  Forsaking  the  means  of  grace.  Neh. 
X.  39  ;  Heb.  x.  25. 

4.  Worldly-mindedness.      2  Tim.   iv 
10  ;  I  John  ii.  15. 

5.  Levity  in  conversation.     Eph.  v.  4 ; 
2  Pet.  iii.  II. 

6.  A    quarrelsome  spirit.      Isa.    xxix. 
21  ;  1  Cor,  iii.  3. 

7.  Dwelling   on  the  faults  of  others. 
Matt,  vii,  3,  5. 

8.  Readiness  to  take  offence.    Pro.  xiv 
17  ;  xviii.  19. 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE   READINGS. 


207 


9.  A  murmuring,    repining    spirit.       i 
Oor.  X.  10  ;  PhiL  ii.  14. 

10.  A  critical  hearing  of  the  word.     2 
"Tim.  iv.  3. 

11.  Covetousness.     Luke  xii.  15  ;  Col. 
aii.  5. 

12.  Light   thoughts  of    sin.      i  Kings 
.-xvi.  41  :  Matt.  xxii.  5. 

13.  Intemperance.     Prov.  xxii.  29-32. 

14.  Love  of  pre-eminence.     Prov.  xvi. 
18  ;  Luke  xiv.  8-1 1. 

15.  Indulgence  in  secret  sin.      Num. 
:xxxii.  23  ;  Eccl.  xii.  14. 

16.  Falling  into  outward  sin.      Prov. 
rxiv.  4  ;  Hos.  iv.  17. 

17.  Into  scoffing  and  infidelity.     2  Pet. 
>iii.  3. 

18.  Persecuting    the    righteous.      Acts 
•vii.  52. 

19.  An  awful  death.     Prov.  xiv.  32. 

20.  Final  perdition.     Matt.  xxv.  41. 
Turn    to    the    Scriptures    attached    to 

•every  step  in  the  ladder — ponder  them. 
And  *'  now  unto  Him  that  is  able  to  keep 
you  from  falling,  be  glory  and  majesty, 
'dominion  and  power,  both  now  and  for- 
■€ver.     Amen." 


CONFESSION  OF  SIN. 

Acknowledge,  not  hide.  Psalm  li.  3  ; 
--xxxii.  5. 

Me,  a  sinner.     Luke  xviii.  13. 

Father,  I  have'.sinned.     Luke  xv.  18. 

Dealt  very  corruptly.  Neh.  i.  6,  7  ;  i 
sKings  vii i.  47. 

Against  thee.     Jer.  xiv.  20. 

Because — forsaken  God.    Judges  x.  10. 

Unto  us,  confusion.     Dan.  ix.  8. 

For  Thy  Name's  sake.     Ps.  Ixxix.  9. 

Cleanse  me.     Ps.  li.  2. 

Heal  my  soul.     Ps.  xli.  4. 

Whiles  I  was  confessing.     Dan.  ix.  29. 


THE    "COMES"     OF    THE    NEW 
TESTAMENT. 

1.  God's  invitation.     Luke  xiv.  7. 

2.  The  soul's  struggle.     Markx.  21. 

3.  Grace  to  the  chief  of  sinners.     Luke 
xix.  5. 

4.  Rest.     Matt.  xi.  28. 

5.  Separation  from  the  world.     2  Cor. 
'vi.  17.  • 

6.  Strength  for  service.    John  xxi.  12. 

7.  Second    coming    of  Christ.      Rev. 
rxxii.  20. 

The  Truth. 


THE    "COMES"    OF    THE    OLD 
TESTAMENT. 

1.  Judgment.     Gen.  vii.  I. 

2.  Salvation.     Isa.  i.  18. 

3.  The  Holy  Spirit.     Ezek.  xxxvii.  9. 

4.  Worship.     Psalm  xcv.  6. 

5.  Revival.     Song  of  Sol.  iv.  6. 

6.  Care  of  Israel's  faithful  remnant  in 
the  last  days.     Isa.  xxvi.  20. 

7.  Second  appearing  of   Christ.      Jer. 

1-5- 


CHANCE. 
god's  part. 
He  controls  every  event,     i    Sam.  ii. 
6-9  ;  Dan.  iv.    35  ;  Matt.   vi.  26 ;  x.  29- 
31  ;  Eph.  i.  II. 

He  upsets  all  unrighteous  plans.     Job 
v.  12. 

man's  part. 

H-e  should  do  his  best.     Prov.  xxi.  31  ; 
Eccl.  ix.  10. 

He  should  do  what  is  right.    Prov.  xxi. 

30- 

He  should  trust  God  for  success.    Prov. 

xvi.  33. 

Events   appear  to   men  to  happen  by 
chance.     Eccl.  ix.  11  ;  Luke  x.  31,  37. 

But  they  are  portions  of  God's  provi 
dence.     Eccl.  iii.  17. 

And  man  cannot  in   any  way  control 
them.     Eccl.  vii.  13  ;  Lam.  iii.  37. 


RENEWED     ACCEPTANCE    AND 
DEDICATION. 

(IN  DEPENDENCE  ON  DIVINE  STRENGTH.) 

I  know  and  acknowledge  myself  to  be 
a  sinner.  Rom.  iii.  23  ;  Psa.  cxix.  176; 
Luke  XV.  18,  21. 

I  believe  that  God  the  Father,  in  love, 
sent  His  Son  to  save  sinners.  John  iii. 
16,  17  ;  Acts  iii.  26  ;  I  Tim.  i.  15. 

I  embrace  Jesus,  the  Christ  of  God,  as 
my  Saviour.  John  i.  11-13  ;  Matt.  xi. 
28  ;  Acts  xiii.  38,  39  :  Isa.  xiv.  22. 

I  welcome  the  Holy  Spirit  as  my 
Sanctifier.  John  xiv.  16,  17,  26  ;  i  Thes. 
iv,  8  ;  I  Peter  i.  2. 

I  give  myself  wholly  to  Christ  for  Time 
and  Eternity.  Isa.  xliv.  5  ;  Rom.  xii.  i  ; 
I  Cor.  vi.  19,  20. 

I  take  His  Word  for  my  Rule.  Psalm 
cxix.  105  ;  2  Timothy  iii.  16,  17  ;  I  Peter 
i.  14. 

I  take  His  people  for  my  Companions. 
Ruth  i.  16  ;  Acts  ii.  47  ;  Heb.  x.'25. 

I  will  make  His  Glory  my  end.  Rom. 
vi.  II  ;  I  Cor.  x.  31  ;   i  Peter  iv.  11. 


2o8 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


REMEDIES    FOR    SPIRITUAL 
MALADIES. 

Bad  Temper.     Ps.  xxxiv.  i. 

Evil  Speaking.     Ps.  xxxv.  28. 

Melancholy.     Ps.  Ixx.  4. 

Scandal.  ■  Ps.  Ixxi.  8. 

Self  Righteousness.     Ps.  Ixxi.  15. 

Fear.     Ps.  Ixxi,  24. 

Songs.     Ps.  Hi.  9. 

Boasting.     Ps.  xliv.  8. 

Envy.     Prov.  xxiii.  17. 

Evil  Thoughts.     Ps.  cxix.  97. 


DEW  DROPS. 

Drops  of  the  night.     Cant.  v.  2. 

God  give  thee  of  the  dew  of  heaven. 

— Genesis  xxvii,  28.     Comes  dou^n  the 

gift  of  heaven,  copious,  free,  refreshing, 

gently,     silently,     fertilizing.       Isaac's 
blessing  on  Jacob. 

Dew  of   heaven    turned    to  manna. 

In  the  morning  the  dew  lay  round  about 

the  host. — Exodus   xvi.    13.     Then  the 

manna,    angels'   food. — Num.    xi.    19  ; 
Psalm  Ixxviii.  25. 

Softly  God's  mercies  fall.  My  speech 
shall  distil  as  the  dew, — Deut.  xxxii.  2. 

Joseph's  land  blessed  for  the  precious 

things  of  heaven,  the  dew.  Deut.xxxiii,i3. 

The  heavens  shall  drop  down  dew. 
Deut.  xxxiii.  28,  29. 

Death  of  Saul  in  Gilboa.  Ye  moun- 
tains of  Gilboa,  let  there  be  no  dew. — 
2  Sam.  i.  21. 

Elijah's  prophecy.  There  shall  not 
be  dew  these  years. — t  Kings  xvii.  i. 

Job's  former  prosperity.  The  dew 
lay  all  night  upon  my  branch.  •  Job 
xxix.  19. 

Who  hath  begotten  the  drops  of  dew? 
Job  xxxviii.  28. 

Of  Christ  it  is  said  :  Thou  hast  the 
dew  of  thy  youth,  freshness,  brilliancy. 
Psalm  ex.  3. 

Christian  unity  and  love  compared  to 
the  dew  of  mount  Hermon,  mountains 
of  Zion.     Psalm  cxxxiii.  3. 

God  makes  the  clouds  drop  down  dew. 
Prov.  iii,  20. 

The  King's  favor  is  as  dew  upon  the 
grass.     Prov,  xix.  12. 

God  will  comfort  His  people  as  with 
a  cloud  of  dew  in  the  heat  of  harvest. 
Isaiah  xviii.  4. 


Life-giving,  the  dew  of  herbs.  Isaiab 
xxvi.  19. 

I  will  be  as  the  dew  unto  IsraeL 
Hosea  xiv.  5. 

As  a  dew  from  the  Lord.     Micah  v. 7. 

Heaven  over  you  is  stayed  from  dew* 
and  earth  from  her  fruit,     Haggai  i.  10.. 

Heavens  shall  give  their  dew.  Zech. 
viii,     12. 

Dew  comes  in  the  night,  darkness  ; 
night  of  affliction.  Clouds  drop  the 
dew.  C.  P.  J. 


THE     TWENTY-THIRD     PSALM. 
ILLUSTRATED  BY  SCRIPTURE. 

1.  The  Lord  is  my  shepherd.  Isaiah, 
xl.  II  ;  John  x.  11-14. 

2.  I  shall  not  want.  Psalm  Ixxxiv.  11; 
xxxiii.    18-19  ;  xxxiv.  22  ;  xxxvii.  18-19. 

3.  He  maketh  me  to  lie  down  in  green 
pastures. — Pastures  of  tender  grass.. 
He  leadeth  me  beside  the  still  waters. — 
Waters  of  quietness.  Gentle  shepherd 
still, 

4.  He  restoreth  my  soul.  Ruth  iv.15; 
Isaiah  Iviii.  12. 

5.  He  leadeth  me  in  the  paths  of 
righteousness.  Isaiah  xlviii.  17 ;  John. 
X.    13. 

Sing.     He  leadeth  me. 

6.  For  his  name  sake,  i  Samuel  xii. 
22  ;  Psalm  cvi.  8 ;  i  John  ii.  12  ;  Psalm 
Ixxii.   17-19. 

7.  Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the- 
valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  will 
fear  no  evil,  for  thou  art  with  me- 
Isaiah  xliii.'  1-2;  Acts  xxvii.  20-25;. 
Daniel  iii.  25-27. 

8.  Thy  rod  and  thy  staff  they  comfort ' 
me.     Exodus   xvii.   5-6   and    9 ;  Micah 
vii,  14. 

9.  Thou  preparest  a  table  before  me- 
in  the  presence  of  mine  enemies.  Psalm 
Ixxviii.  25-28 .  Luke  xxii.  29-30  ;  Rev.. 
vii.  17. 

10.  Thou  anointest  my  head  with  oil- 
Psalms  xlv.  7 ;  Ixxxix.  20 ;  xcii.  10  ; 
xxviii.  8. 

11.  My  cup  runneth  over.  Psalm 
xxxi.  19 ;  xxxiv.  6-8  ;  xlv.  13-15  ;  Ixxxix. 
I  ;  xcvii.  10-12;  ciii.  1-5. 

1 2.  Surely  goodness  and  mercy  shall 
follow  me  all  the  days  of  my  life. 
Psalm  c.  5  ;  ciii.  17  ;  i  Chron.  xvi.  34  ; 
Psalm  cvi.  i ;  cvii.  i. 

13.  And  I  -ivill  dwell  in  the  house  ofi 
the  Lord  forever.  Psalm  Ixxxiv.  10  ;, 
xxvii,  4  ;  cxvi.   16-19.  C.  P.  J 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


209 


■     NOW  ! 

There  is  a  great   deal   more   in  the 

little  word  now  than   at   first  sight  may 
appear. 

It  is  of  the  very  essence  of  the  Gospel. 

How  often  have  we  pressed  upon  anxious 

enquirers    that,    now    is    the    accepted 

time,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation  ! 

But  the  word  now  is  of  the  very 
essence  of  all  spiritual  blessings. 

Of  justification  :  being  7zow  justified 
by  His  blood.     Rom.  v.  9. 

Of  assurance  :  now,  says  the  apostle, 

are  we  the  sons  of  God. — i   John  iii.  2. 

Again,  now  are  ye  light  in  the  Lord. — 
Eph.  V.  8. 

Of  deliverance  from  the  law  :  but  mow 

we  are  delivered  from  the   law.     Rom. 
vii.  6. 

Of  freedom  from  condemnation  : 
there  is  therefore  now  no  condemnation 
to  them  who  are  in  Christ  Jesus.  Rom, 
viii.  I. 

Of    union    to   Christ :    but    now    in 

Christ  Jesus  ye  who    sometimes  were 

far  off,  are  made  nigh   by  the  blood  of 
Christ.     Eph.  ii.  13. 

Of  holiness :  but  now  being  made  free 

from  sin,  ye  have  your  fruit  unto  holiness. 
Rom.  vi.  22. 

Of  the  life  of  faith  :  the  life  which  I 

now  live  in  the  flesh,  I  live  by  the  faith 

of  the  Son  of  God,  who  loved  me,  and 

gave  Himself  for  me.     Gal.  ii.  20. 
Many  other  passages  tell  us  plainly  that 

our  position  and  blessing  and  power  arc 

established   and   promised  now.     Let  us 

then  in  faith  cultivate  the  present  use  and 

enjoyment  of  our  Christ,  in  whom  we  jzow 

possess  all  things.  C.  B. 


NOW. 

1.  Come;  for  all  things  are  now  ready. 
Luke  xiv.  17. 

2.  The  hour  is  coming,  and  now  is, 
when  tne  dead  shall  hear  the  voice  of  the 
Son  of  God  ;  and  they  that  hear  shall 
live.  John  v.  25;  John  iii.  3;  John  iii. 
30;  I  Tim.  V.  6;  Isaiah  Iv.  3. 

3.  But  now  the  righteousness  of  God 
•without    the    law    is    manifested,    beings 

14 


witnessed  by  the  lav^  and  tne  prophets  ; 
even  the  righteousness  of  God,  which  is 
by  faith  of  Jesus  Christ,  unto  all  and 
upon  all  them  that  believe.  Rom.  iii. 
21,  22  ;  I  Cor.  i.  30, 

4.  Much  more  then,  being  now  justi- 
fied by   His  blood,  we  shall  be  saved 

from  wrath  through  Him.  Rom.  v.  9 ; 
Acts  iii  39. 

5.  There  is,  therefore,  now  no  con- 
demnation to  them,  which  are  in  Christ 
Jesus,  Rom.  viii.  i  ;  and  here  the  verse 
properly  ends,  as  the  clause,  who  walk 
not  after  the  flesh  but  after  the  spirit,  it 
is  well  known,  is  a  human  interpolation, 
appropriately  belonging  to  the  fourth 
verse,  but  marring  the  grandeur  and 
simplicity  of  the  first  verse.  If  a  man 
turns  his  eye  in  upon  himself  with  the 
hope  of  finding  some  good  to  comfort 
his  soul,  he  will  only  lift  the  wail  ol 
distress.      Rom.  vii.  24. 

6.  Behold,  now  is  the  accepted  time  ; 

behold,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation, — 2 

Cor.  vi.  2.     Or  as  Alford  says  it  means, 

now  is  the  very  time  of  most  favorable 
acceptance. 

7.  But  now,  in   Christ  Jesus,  ye  who 

sometimes  were  far  off,  are   made   nigh 

by  the  blood  of  Christ.  Eph.  ii.  13  ; 
Heb.  ix.  24. 

8.  Beloved,  now  are  we  the  sons  of 
God ;  and  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we 
shall  be  :  but  we  know  that,  when  He 
shall  appear,  we  shall  be  like  Him  ;  for 
we  shall  see  Him  as  He  is.  i  John  iii.  2^ 
Gal.  iii.  26.  J.  H.  Brookes. 

NOW. 

The  now  of  Calvary.     Heb.  ix.  26. 

The  Jtozt;  of  resurrection,   i  Cor.  xv.  20.. 

The  now  of  deliverance.  Ps.  xxvii,  6. 

The  now  of  salvation.     2  Cor.  vi.  2. 

The  now  of  no  condemnation.  Rom., 
viii.  I. 

The  now  of  nearness.     Eph.  ii.  13. 

The  7Z0ZU  of  sonship.     I  John  iii.  2. 

The  7Z0W  of  intercession.     Heb.  ix.  24.. 

The  fzora  of  hope.     Rom.  xv.  13. 

The  7zoza  of  peace.     Rom.  xv.  33. 

jVozc  unto  Him  that  is  able  to  keep  you 
from  falling,  and  to  present  you  faultless 
before  the  presence  of  His  glory  with 
exceeding  joy. 


2IO 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


JOB  XIX.  8.  9.  lo. 

He  hath  fenced  up  my  way.  Shew 
mc  thy  ways,  O  Lord.     Ps.  xxv.  4. 

He  hath  set  darkness  in  my  paths. 
The  paths  of  the  Lord  are  mercy  and 
truth.     Ps.  xxv.  10. 

He  hath  stripped  me  of  my  glory. 
That  we  should  be  to  the  praise  of  His 
glory.     Eph.  i.  12. 

And  taken  the  crown  from  my  head. 
On  His  head  were  many  crowns.  Rev. 
xix.  12. 

He  hath  destroyed  me.  That  the  body 
of  sin  might  be  destroyed,     Rom.  vi.  6. 

I  am  gone.  Not  I.  but  Christ  liveth 
in  me.     Gal.  ii.  20. 

Mine  hope  hath  He  removed.  Christ 
in   you,  the  hope  of  glory.    Col.  i.  27. 


THE  NEW  LIFE  AND  THE  NEW 
WAY. 

My  birthday. — John  iii.  7  ;  Eph.  ii.  i. 

M)'  Father. — i  John  iii.  i. 

My  food. — I  Peter  ii.  2. 

My  clothes. — Isa.  Ixi.  10  ;  i  Pet.  v.  5. 

My  life. — Col.  iii.  3  ;  Phil.  i.  21. 

My  growth. — 2  Peter  iii.  18  ;  Eph. 
iv.  15. 

My  school. — Deut.  viii.  2. 

My  teacher. — John  xiv.  26. 

My  lesson. — Titus  iii.  14  ;  Phil.  iv.  11. 

My  friend. — Hebrews  xiii.  8  ;  Prov. 
xviii.  24. 

My  character.— I  Peter  i.  15. 

My  pursuits. — Phil.  iii.  13,  14. 

My  sorrows. — 2  Cor.  vi.  10 ;  Rom. 
xii.  15. 

My  joys. — i    Peter  i.  8  ;  Psa.  xvi.  11. 

My  home. — ^John  xiv.  2  ;  Rev.  xxi.io. 


THE  NEW  THINGS  OF    TPIE 
BIBLE  ABOUT   THE    NEW  MAN. 
"  New  things  do  I  declare.'" — Isa.  xlii.  9. 

1.  A  new  creature.  2  Cor.  v.  17. 
If  any  man  be  in  Christ,  &c;  Implying 
— Regenera  tion . 

2.  A  new  heart.  Ezek.  xxxvi.  26. 
A  new  heart  will  I  give  you.  Implying 
— Love. 

3.  A  new  tongue.  Mark  xvi.  17. 
They  shall  speak  with,  &c.  Implying — 
Power. 

4.  A  new  song.  Psalm  xl.  3.  He 
hath  put  a  new  song,  &c.  tmpiying — 
Joy. 

5.  New  food.  1  Peter  ii.  2.  As 
aew-born  babes,  &c.  Implying — The 
Scriptures. 

6.  A  new  name.  Rev.  iii.  12.  I 
will  write  on  him.  &c.  Implying 
-Privilege. 


7.  A  new  covenant.  Heb.  viii.  8. 
I  will  make  a  new  covenant.  Implying 
— Relationship. 

8.  A  new  commandment.  John  xiii. 
34.  A  new  commandment,  &c.  Im- 
plying— Law. 

9.  A  new  way.  Isaiah  xliii.  19.  I 
will  do  a  new  thing,  &c.  Implying — 
Guidance. 

10.  New  mercies.  Lam.  iii.  23. 
They  are  new,  &c.  Implying — Gratitude. 

11.  New  fruit.  Ezek.  xlvii.  12.  It 
shall  bring  forth.     Implying — Holiness. 

12.  A  new  home.  Rev.  xxi.  i.  I 
saw  a  new  heaven,  &c.  Implying — 
Heaven. 

"Behold,  I  make  all  things  news." — 
Rev.  xxi.  5. 

Note. — The  "  New  Song"  occurs  eight 
times — oftener  than  any  other  new 
thing — and  shows  that  the  Lord's  people 
ought  to  be  a  singing  people. 


CONVERSION. 
A  radical  change.     2  Cor.  v.  17. 
A  spiritual  change.     John  iii.  6. 
God's  gift.     Titus  iii.  5. 
Necessary.     John  iii.  3. 
Commanded.     Acts  iii.  19. 
Evidence.     Matt.  vii.  20. 
Manner.     Acts  xvi.  31. 


CONVERSION. 

Conviersion  is  not  Profession.  Titus 
i.  16 — Baptism.  Acts  viii.  13-r-Morality. 
Luke  xviii.  11,  12 — Outward  Conformity 
to  Religion.  2  Tim.  iii.  5 — the  Sup- 
pression of  Vice.  2  Peter  ii.  20,  21,  22 
— or  the  excitement  of  Feeling.  Acts 
xxi  v.  25 ;  xxvi.  28. 

Conversion  is  a  change  in  the  mind. 

Ph'l.ii.  5 — in  tl^  members.     Rom.  vi. 

13-  and  in  the  life.     Rom.  xiv.  8 — and 

a  turning  from  sin.     Matt.  i.  21 — from 

Satan.      Col.   i.   13 — from    the    world. 

Gal.  vi.  14 — and  from  self-righteousnec  -.. 

Phil.  iii.  8,  9 — to  God.     Psalm  Ii.  13— 

to  Christ.     Phil.  i.  21 — and  to  Christ's 
commandments.     Matt.  xi.  29,  30. 

Without  Conversion,  Existence.  Matt. 
xxvi.  24 — Creation.  Rom.  viii.  22 — Re- 
ligion. Prov.  XV.  8 — Hope.  Job  xxvii. 
8 — and  the  work  of  Christ,  as  far  as 
Thou  art  concerned,  are  in  vain.  John 
iii.  3  ;  Matt,  xviii.  3. 

Art  Thou  Converted  ? — 2  Cor.  xiii:  5; 
Gal.  vi.  4;   I  Peter  iii.  15. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


211 


WHAT  IS  RELIGION? 

1.  To  be  religious  is,  to  know  the 
only  true  God  and  Jesus  Christ  whom 
He  hath  sent.  John  xvii.  3  ;  2  Cor.  iv. 
6;  Matt.  iv.  6;  xiii.  16,  17. 

2.  To  return  to  God,  and  repose  in 
Him  as  the  rest  of  our  souls.  Psalm 
cxvi.  7 ;  cxix.  Ill  ;  xci.  9. 

3.  To  come  to  God  as  a  Father,  in 
and  by  Jesus  Christ  as  Mediator.  Gal. 
ii.  20 ;  Phil.  iii.  3  ;  Rom.  xv,  13. 

4.  To  enjoy  God  in  all  our  creature- 
comforts.  Psalm  iv.  6,  7 ;  xxxiv.  8,  9 ; 
I  Tim.  vi.  17. 

5.  To  cast  all  our  cares  upon  God, 
and  to  commit  all  our  ways  and  works 
to  Him,  with  an  assurance  that  He  will 
care  for  us.  1  Peter  v.  7  ;  Psalm  xxxvii. 
4,  5;  Phil,  iv.  11-13. 

6.  To  rejoice  in  the  Lord  always. 
Phil.  iii.  i;  iv.  4 ;  1  Thess.  v.  16; 
Psalm  cxxxviii.  5  ;  Hab.  iii.  17,  18. 

7.  To  make  a  business  of  praising 
God.  Psalm  Ixxxiv.  4 ;  i  Peter  ii.  9  ; 
Heb.  xiii.  15. 

8.  To  have  all  our  inordinate  appe- 
tites corrected  and  regulated.  Rom. 
viii.  13  ;  2  Tim.  ii.  26  ;  Prov.  xxiii.  29-32. 

9.  To  have  all  our  unruly  passions 
likewise  governed  and  subdued.  Psalm 
xxxvii.  17 ;  Matt.  xi.  29. 

10.  To  dwell  in  love  to  all  our  brethren, 

and  to  do  all  the  good  we  can  in  this 

world.     Rom.    xiii.    10;    Acts  xx.   25; 

Rom.    xii.    15 ;    Job  xxix.    13  ;    Psalm 
cxxxiii.  I. 

11.  To  live  a  life  of  communion  with 
God.     I  John  i.  3  ;  Psa.  xxv,  15. 

12.  To  keep  up  a  constant  believing 
prospect  of  the  glory  to  be  revealed. 
Col.  iii.  11;  Rom.  xv.  13;  Phil.  iii. 
20,  21.  Matthew  Henry, 


REGENERATION. 
I.  Regeneration— its  Definition.  2 
Cor.  V.  17  ;  Rom.  vi.  4;  Eph,  ii.  1,  5  ; 
Ezek.  xxxvi.  26 ;  Eph.  iv.  24.  2.  Re- 
generation— its  Necessity.  John  iii.  6  ; 
Rom.  viii.  7,  8  ;  Matt,  xviii.  3  ;  John  iii. 
3.     3.  Regeneration — its  Author.    John 


i.  13  ;  I  Peter  i.  3  ;  i  John  ii.  29  -  John 
iii.  6  ;  Titus  iii,  5.  4.  Regeneration — 
its  Means.  James  i.  18;  i  Pet.  i.  ^; 
I  Cor.  iv.  15  ;  Psa.  cxix.  59 ;  John  vi. 
45.  5.  Regeneration — its  Evidences,  i 
John  v.  I  ;  ii.  29  ;  iv.  7  ;  2  Cor.  v.  17. 
6,  Regeneration — its  Fruits.  Eph.  iv. 
24  ;  Rom,  viii.  29  ;  Col,  iii.  10  ;  i  John 
V.  4  ;  Rom.  vii.  22.  7.  Regeneration — 
its  Blessedness.  Romans  iv.  6-8  ;  v, 
1-3;  viii.  16,  17 ;  2  Cor.  ix.  8  ;  Jude  24. 
Rev,  J.  H.  Vincent,  D.D. 


"  NEW," 

He  that  sat  upon  the  throne  saith, 

"Behold,  I  make  all  things  new,"  Rev. 
xxi,  5. 

New    Testament,     Matt.     xxvi.    28 ; 

Mark  xiv.  24  ;  Luke  xxii.  20  ;  i  Cor.  xi. 
25  ;  Heb.  ix.  15, 

New  covenant,  Heb.  viii.  8,  13 ;  xii.  24. 
New  and  living  way,  Heb  x.  20. 
New  man,  Eph.    ii.  15;  iv.  24  ;  Col. 
iii.  10. 

New  creature  or  divine  nature,  2  Cor. 
V.  17  ;  Gal.  vi.  15 ;  2  Pet.  i.  4. 

New  Commandment,  John  xiii.  34. 

New  Spirit  within  you,  i  John  ii.  8  ,* 
Ezek,  xi.  19  ;  xxxvi.  26. 

New  Heavens  and  a  new  earth,  Isa. 
Ixv.  17  ;  Ixvi.  22  ;  2  Peter  iii.  13  ;  Rev. 
xxi.  I. 

New  Jerusalem,  Rev.  iii.  12  ;  xxi.  2. 

New  name.  Rev.  ii.  17;  iii.  12;  Isa, 
Ixii.  2. 

New  Song,  Psa.  xl.  3  ;  xc.  i ;  Psalm 
xcviii.  I ;  cxlix.  i. 

New  Tongues,  Mark  xvi.  17  ;  Acts  ii. 
4  ;  X,  46 ;  xix.  6 ;  i  Cor.  xii.  10,  28  ; 
I  Cor.  xiv. 

God's  mercies  new  every  morning, 
Lamentations  iii.  23. 


THE  NEW  BIRTH. 

1.  Its  necessity.  Gen.  vi.  5  ;  Job  xiv. 
4 ;  Psalm  Ii.  5  ;  Prov.  xxviii.  26  ;  Eccl. 
ix.  3  J  Jer.  xvii.  9;  Mark  vii.  21-23; 
Rom.  viii.  7,  8  ;  i  Cor.  ii.  14;  Eph.ii.i. 

2.  Its  sources.  John  i.  13  ;  Titus  iii. 
5  ;  James  i.  18  ;  i  John  ii.  29. 

3.  How  described.  New  creation  :  2 
Cor.  V.  17;  Gal.  vi.  15;  Eph.  ii.  10. 
Spiritual  resurrection  :    Rom.   vi.   4-6 


212 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


Eph.  ii.  1-5;  Col.  ii.  12;  iii.  i.  New 
heart :  i  Sam.  x.  9 ;  Ezek.  xxxvi.  26. 
Circumcision  of  the  heart :  Deut.  xxx. 
6;  Rom.  ii.  29  ;  Col.  ii.  11.  New  man  : 
I  Sam.  X.  6 ;  Eph.  ii.  15 ;  iv.  24.  Inward 
man:  Rom.  vii.  22;  2  Cor.  iv.  16. 
Washing  of  regeneration :  Titus  iii.  5. 
Born  again  :  James  i.  18  ;  i  Peter  i.  23. 

4.  Its  effect.  Begets  likeness  to  God: 
Eph.  iv.  24;  Col.  iii.  10.  To  Christ: 
Rom.  viii.  29. 

5.  Evidences  of  faith  in  Christ,  i 
John  iii.  9  ;  v.  i  ;  i.  18.  Love  of  God's 
law  :  Rom.  vii.  22.  Brotherly  love :  John 
xiii.  35  ;  I  John  iii.  14-24;  iv.  7;  v.  i,  2. 
Victory  over  the  world  :  i  John  v.  4. 

6.  Instrumentalities  of  the  word  of 
God  :  Jas.  i.  18  ;  i  Peter  i.  23,  Ministry 
of  the  Gospel :  i  Cor.  iv.  15. 


NEW  LIFE. 

1.  New  creature  or  new  birth.  2  Cor. 
V.  17  ;  John  iii.  3,  7  ;  i  Peter  i.  23  ;  James 
i.  iS,  21  ;  John  i.  12,  13  ;  2  Peter  i.  4  ; 
Gal.  iii.  26 ;  Eph.  ii.  10;  Eph.  iv.  22,24. 

As  new  creatures,   we   live  under  a 

2.  New  covenant.  Heb.  viii.  8-13  ; 
Heb.  xii.  22,  24;  Matt.  xxvi.  28. 

As  new  creatures  under  a  new  cove- 
nant,  we  have   a 

3.  New  commandment.  John  xiii.  34; 
John  XV.  12,  17  ;  i  John  iii.  14-24 ;  Rom. 
xiii.  8-10  ;  Matt,  xxii.  36,  40  ;  i  Cor  .xiii. 

And  walk    in    a 

4.  New  way.      Heb.   x.  19,  20  ;  John 

X.  9 ;  John  xiv.   6 ;   Isaiah   xxxv.   8-10. 

To  the 

5.  New  Jerusalem.     Rev.   xxi.   i,    2 ; 

Rev.  iii.  12  ;  John  xiv.  2 ;  John  xvii.  24; 
Phil.iii.  19,26  ;  Eph.ii.6,9;  I  John  iii.2,3. 
We  are  known  by  a 

6.  New  name.  Rev.  iii.  12;  Rev.  ii. 
17;  Isaiah  Ixii.  2  ;  Isaiah  xliii.  1-7;  Rev. 
xxii.  4  ;  Luke  x.  20 ;  i  John  v.  4,  5  ;  i 
Cor.  XV.  57,  58. 

Then  in  that  glorious  home  with  our 
new  name,  we  shall  join  with  the  untold 
host  of  the  redeemed  in  singing  the 

7.  New  song.  Rev.  v.  9,  12  ;  Rev. xiv. 
I    T,  ;  Rev.   XV.    3  ;  Rev.    xix.    1-9.     We 


learn  the  new  song  in   this    world.— 
Psalm  xl.  1-4  ;  Psalm  cxviii.  14. 

O  sing  unto  the   Lord  a  new  song 
for   He  hath   done  marvellous  things 
Praise  ye  the  Lord.     Sing  unto  the  Lord 
a  new  song.     Praise  ye  the  Lord. 

How  shall  we  sing  the  Lord's  song  in 
a  strange  land.  S.  R.  B. 


A  SWARM  OF  SCRIPTURE  BEES 

Be  converted.     Acts  iii.  19. 
Be  renewed.     Eph.  iv.  23. 
Be  obedient.     Eph.  iv.  23. 
Be  comforted.     Col.  ii.  2. 
Be  content,     Heb.  xiii.  5.. 
Be  sober,     i  Peter  i.  14. 
Be  thankful.     Col.  iii.  15* 
Be  discreet.     Titus  ii,  5. 
Be  gentle.     2  Tim.  ii.  24. 
Be  loved,     i  John  iii.  2. 
Be  courteous,     i    Peter 
Be  pitiful.     I  Peter  iii.  i 
Be  wise,     i  Cor.  iii.  8. 
Be  diligent.     2  Peter  iii. 
Be  laithful.     Rev.  ii.  10. 
Be  zealous.     Gal.  iv.  18 
Be  temperate.     Titus  1. 
Be  vigilant,     i  Peter  v.  8. 
Be  ready,     i  Peter  iii.  15* 
Be  glad,     i  Peter  iv.  13. 
Be  good.     2  Cor.  v.  10. 
Be  holy,     i  Peter  i.  16. 
Be  perfect.     2  Cor.  xiii,  ir. 
Be  Christ's.     Gal.  iii.  ?9. 


iii.  8. 


14.. 


8. 


READY. 

Destruction  is  ready. — ^Job  xviii.  it. 
The  day  of  darkness  is  ready  .--Job  xv.a3. 
God  is  ready  to  pardon. — Neh.  ix.  17. 
The  feast  is  ready. — Luke  xiv.  17. 
Salvation  is  ready  to  be  revealed. — i 
Peter  i.  5.  Christ  is  ready  to  judge  the 
quick  and  the  dead. — i  Peter  iv.  5. 
Therefore  be  ye  also  ready. — Matt, 
xxiv.   44. 

The  believer  should  be  ready  to  give 
an  answer  of  the  hope  that  is  in  him. — 
I  Peter  iii.  15.  To  preach  the  Gospel. — 
Rom.  i.  15.  To  distribute. — i  Tim  vi. 
18.  To  every  good  work. — Titus  iii.  i. 
To  be  bound  and  to  die. — Acts  xxi.  13. 
To  be  offered  and  to  depart. — 2  Tim.iv.6 
To  meet  the  Lord.—  Luke  xii.  40. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


213 


STRONG  IN   THE   LORD. 
In  order  to  be  strong  in  the  Lord 

1.  We  must  have  simple  faith. 
Little  faith  fails.     Matt.  xiv.  31. 
Great  faith  prevails,     Mark  xi.  22,23; 

John  xiv.  12 ;  Luke  xviii.  42. 

If  thou  canst  believe,  all  things  are 
possible  to  him  that  believeth.  Mark 
tx.  23. 

According  to  your  faith  be  it  unto  you. 

Our  God  whom  we  serve  is  able  to 
deliver  us.     Dan.  iii.  17,  18;  vi.  23. 

2.  We  must  realize  our  oneness  with 
■Christ. 

All  my  springs  are  in  Thee. — Psalm 

Ixxxvii.  7.     We  must  abide  in  the  Vine. 

— John  XV.  4,  5  ;  Col.  ii.  3,  9.     We  hold 

the   Head  that  we  may  grow  up  into 

Him. — Col,  ii.  19  ;  Eph.  iv.  15,  16. 

3.  We  must  seek  strength  by  prayer. 
They  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  will 

arenew  their  strength. — Isaiah  xl.  31  ; 
Psalm  xxvii,  14.  Christ  Himself  sought 
strength  by  prayer. — Heb.  v.  7.  St. 
Luke  tells  us  very  much  about  the 
prayerfulness  of  our  blessed  Saviour. — 
Luke  iii.  21  ;  v.  16  ;  vi.  12  ;  ix.  18,  29  ; 
xi.  I  ;  xxii.  32,  39-46.  'So  He  bade  us 
ask. — Matt.  vii.  7  ;  James  i.  5.  Our  God 
is  faithful. — i  Cor.  x.  12,  13  ;  2  Thess. 
iii.  3. 

Only  trust  Him.  Let  our  resolve  be 
' — I  will  go  in  the  strength  of  the  Lord 
God.  I  will  make  mention  of  Thy 
^righteousness  ;  even  of  Thine  only. 


FROM  SUFFERING  TO  GLORY. 
Jesus.     Heb.  xxi.  2  ;  i  Pet.  i.  21-24. 
Paul.     Rom.  viii.  18  ;  2  Cor.  iv.  17-18. 
Peter,     i  Peter  iv.  12-14. 
All.     Rev.  vii.  9- 17. 


SUCH  AN  OFFER. 

COME  UNTO  ME  :    I  W^ILL  GIVE  YOU 

Such  an  offer  !     Full  and 

free  ! 
Can  it  be  really  meant  for 

me? 
That  all  my  sins  on  Christ 

be  laid,  Isa. 

That  all  my  debt  by  Him 

be  paid  ?  Gal. 

Yes :  Jesus   says  it,    Who 

has  died  : —  Rom 

''Believe,'     and    thou    art        Gal. 

justified.  John 


REST. 


liii.  6. 

iii.  13. 

.  iv.  5. 

ii.  16. 

iii.  16. 


Jesus  stood  and  cried,  saying,  If  ony 
man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  Me  and 
drink.    John  vii.  37. 

Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  ye 
to  the  waters  ;  and  he  that  hath  no  money 
come  ye,  buy  and  eat  :  yea,  come,  buy 
wine  and  milk  without  money,  and  with- 
out price.     Isa.  Iv.  i. 

Such  an  offer  !  Pardon  now       Isa.  i.  18. 

For  hidden  sin,  and  broken 

vow  !  Heb.  viii.  12. 

And  years  of  cold  neglect 

and  scorn  ; — 
Can  mercy's  ray  upon  me 

dawn  ? 
Yes  :  Jesus  died  instead  of 

thee ;  2  Cor.  v.  21. 

His  death  for  thiney  must  be  i  Pet.  ii.  24. 

thy  plea.  I  Pet.  iii.  18. 

Through  this  man  is  preached  unto  you 
the  forgiveness  of  sins  j  and  by  Hini  all 
that  believe  are  justified,  etc.  Acts  xiii. 
38- 

When  he  was  yet  a  great  way  off,  uis 
Father  saw  him,  and  had  compassion, 
and  ran,  and  fell  on  his  neck,  and  kissed 
him.     Luke  xv.  20. 

Such    an  offer  !     Need  I  Rom.  iii.  20-24. 

bring.  Tit.  iii.  5. 

To  Jesus  Christ  no  offering  ? 
A    willing   and    believing 

heart. 
This — this  is  all  the  sinner's 

part : 
He  says  it.    Who  death's 

sting  has  braved  :  Hos.  xiii.  14. 

Look    unto    Me,    and   be 

saved.  Isa.  xiv.  22. 

With  the  heart  man  believeth  unto 
righteousness,  and  with  the  mouth  con- 
fession is  made  unto  salvation.  Rom.  x. 
10. 

Verily,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  He  that 
believeth  on  Me  hath  everlasting  life. 
John  vi.  47. 

Such  an  offer !     But  I  find 
All  unrenewed   my   heart 

and  mind,  Rom.  iii.  10; 

Is  it  not  written  in  God's  viii.  7. 

Word, 
We  must  be  '  holy  to  the 

Lord  '  ?  Heb.  x.  16. 

Yes  :  and  that  holiness  be-      i  Pet.  i.  16. 

gins 
When  Jesus  saves  us  from 

our  sins. 


214 


NOTES   FOR   BIBLE   READINGS. 


Thou  shalt  call  His  name  Jesus  :  for 
He  shall  save  His  people  from  their  sins. 
Matt.  i.  21. 

Sin  shall  not  have  dominion  over  you  : 
for  ye  are  not  under  the  law,  but  under 
grace.     Rom.  vi.  14. 

Such  an  offer !     Peace  and 

joy,  I  Pet.  i.  8,  9. 

Untainted   by  the   world's 

alloy ; 
The  sweet  assurance  of  a 

Friend 
Who  loving,  loves  unto  the 

end  ;  John  xiii.  i . 

The  knowledge  now  of  sins 

forgiven,  I  John  i.  7. 

And  of  a  place  prepared  in 

Heaven.  John  xiv.  1-3. 

Peace  I  leave  with  you,  My  peace  I 
give  unto  you:  not  as  the  world  giveth, 
give  I  unto  you.     John  xiv.  27. 

Your  heart  shall  rejoice,  and  your  joy 
no  man  taketh  from  you.       John  xvi.  22. 

Oh,  what  goodness  !  Lord, 

I  take 
This  offer  Thou  dost  freely 

make  !  Mark  ix.  24 

My  one  desire  shall  hence-    Acts  viii.  37 

forth  be 
To  live  for  Him  who  died   i  Cor.  vi.  20 

for  me.  ,  Phil.  iii.  8 

Spread  glad  news  through  every  nation 
Instant,  free,  and  full  salvation  ! 
The  love  of  Christ  constraineth  us  ;  be- 
cause we  thus  judge that  they  which 

live  should  not  henceforth  live  unto  them- 
selves, but  unto  Him  which  died  for 
them.     2  Cor.  v.  14,  15. 

The  Spirit  and  the  Bride  say.  Come. 
And  let  him  that  heareth  say.  Come. 
And  let  him  that  is  athirst  Come,  And 
whosoever  will,  let  him  take  the  Water 
of  Life  freely.     Rev.  xxii.  17. 


I'm  a  poor  sinner,  and  nothing  at  all, 
But  Jesus  Christ  is  my  all  in  all. 


WHERE  ARE  YOUR  SINS? 
Isa.  liii.  6  ;  i  Pet.  ii.  24  ;  Isa.  xxxviii. 
17  ;  Isa.  xliii.  25  ;  Isa.   xliv.   22  ;  Micah 
vii.    19  ;  Ps.  ciii.    12  ;  John  i.  29  ;  Rom. 
iv.  7,  8  ;  Heb.  ix.  26  ;  Heb.  x.  17. 


TEMPTATION. 

Lead  us  not  into.     Matt.  vi.  13. 

Way  of  escape,     i  Cor.  x.  13. 

Deliver  out  of.     2  Peter  ii.  9. 

Time  of  temptation.     Luke  viii.  13. 

Will  be  rich,  fall  into,     i  Tim.  vi.  9. 

Divers  temptations.  Jas.  i.  2  ;  I  Petec' 
i.  6. 

Lest  thou  also  be  tempted.     Gal.  vi.  i.. 

Let  no  man  say.     Jas.  i.  13,  14. 

Trial  of  your  faith,  precious,  i  Peter 
i.  7. 

Blessed  is  he  that  endureth.     Jas.  i.  12.. 

I  will  keep  thee  from.     Rev.  iii.  lo. 


FAITH. 
I.  What  is  faith?  John  iciv.  i  ;  Rom. 
X.  6-10  ;  2  Cor.  v.  7  ;  Heb.  xi.  I.  2.  The 
Truth  to  be  believed.  Psa.  xxvii.  13  j: 
Matt.  ix.  28-30  ;  Mark  xi.  24  ;  Heb,  xi.  3. 
3.  The  aim  of  faith.  Heb.  ii.  6  ;  Johns 
iii,  16  ;  2  Cor.  i.  24  ;  i  Tim.  i.  5.  4. 
The  results  of  faith.  Acts  x.  43  ;  Rom. 
X.  9-1 1  ;  Gal.  ii.  20  ;  Eph.  iii.  12.  5. 
The  testing  of  faith.  Gen.  xxii.  15-18  ;: 
John  xi.  25-27  ;  James  1.  3  ;  "i  Peter  i.  7, 

6.  The  power  of  faith.     Matt.  ix.  28-30  ;: 
Mark  ix.   23  ;  Eph.  vi.   16  ;    Jas.  v.   15. 

7.  From  faith  to  fruition.     Rom.   iv.  3  ;. 
Heb.  iv.  3  ;  James  ii.  17  ;   i  John  v.  4. 

J.  H.  Vincent,  D.  D. 


TRUMPETS. 

I.  God's  Call  to  Man. 

(i)  The  trumpet  of  the  jubilee  (on  day 
of  atonement). — Lev.  xxv.  9.  To» 
proclaim  : 

{a)  Liberty,  ver.  10. — Isa.  Ixi.  i  ;  Rom. 
vi.  7  ;  Gal.  v.  i. 

{Possession. — Eph.    i.. 
II, 
Family. — Eph.  ii.  19. 
{c)  Rest,  ver.  11. — Matt.  xi.  28,  29. 
{2)   The  silver  trumpets, — Num.  x,  1-8. 

(a)  The  gathering  call,  "For  the 
calling  of  the  assembly,"  ver,  2, 
(present) — Matt,  xxiii,  37;  xviii,  20  ; 
(future)  I  Thess.  iv.  16,  17  ;  Psa. 
1.  5  ;  2  Thess.  ii.  i. 

(b)  The  journeying  call,  ver.  2.  Fol- 
low me. — Mark  x.  21  ;  i  Peter  ii. 
21  ;  Heb.  xiii.  14, 

(3)   The  trumpets  of  rams^  horns. — ^Josh. 
vi.  5. 
God's  call    to  a    shout   of  victory. — s. 
Chrcn.  xiii.  14,  15  ;  i  Cor.  xv.  57  ; 
Psalm  v.  II. 


NOTES    FOR.  BIBLE    READINGS. 


(4)  Warning  to  His  rebellious  children. 

— 2  Chron.  xiii.  12  ;  Isa,  xxx,  i. 

II. — Man's  Call  to  God   (as  priests), 

(i)  In  time  of  war  and  oppression  of 

the  enemy. — Num.  x.  9  ;  Ps,  1.  15  ; 

Ps.  xlii.  9. 

Ye   shall  be  remembered. — Isa. 

xliii.  26;  Isa.  xliv.  21. 
Ye  shall  be  saved, — Ps.   cxxxvi. 

23.  24. 

(2)  In  the  day  of  gladness. — Num.  x. 
10  ;  2  Chron.  v.  13  ;  Ps.  xcviii.  6. 

(3)  In  your  solemn  days. — Isa.  xxx. 29. 

"For  a  memorial"   over  burnt- 
oflferings  and  sacrifices  of  peace. 
III. — Man's  Call  to  Man. 
(i)  For    warning. — Ezek.    xxxiii.     3  ; 

Col,  i.  28. 
(2)  For  battle. — Neh.    iv.    20 ;  i  Cor. 
xiv.  8. 


Support    and   comfort   one  another. 
Rom.  XV.  I. 
To  serve  one  another.     Gal.  v.  13. 
God  commandeth  Noah.     Gen.  vii.  i. 
God  remembered  Noah.    Gen.  viii.  i. 
God  blessed  Noah.     Gen.  ix.  i. 


CHRISTIAN  UNITIES. 

1.  Christ  ana  the  Father  are  "  one." 
John  X.  30. 

2.  Christ  and  His  disciples  are  "one." 
John  XV.  5. 

3.  The  Father  and  the  Son  and  dis- 
ciples are  "one."     John  xvii.  23. 

4.  Disciples    are    "  one"   with    each 
other.     Rom.  xii.  5.  T.  W.  H. 


TRUST. 

COMMAND, 

Trust  in  the  Lord.  Psa.  xxxvii.  3  ; 
Prov.  lii.  5, 

ANiSWER. 

In  Him  will  I  trust.  Psa.  xci.  2 ; 
Psa.  cxliii.  8. 

PROMISE. 

They  that  trust  shall  be  as  Mount 
Zion.     Psa.  cxxv.  i. 

RESULT. 

My  heart  trusteth,  and  I  am  helped. 
Psa.  XX viii.  7. 

God  s  command.  2  Cor.vi.  17  ;  Rom. 
xii.  2  ,  I  John  ii.  15,  16. 

Christ's  declaration.  Matt,  vi,  24 ; 
Matt.  vii.  21 ;  Matt,  x,  34-40  ;  John  xv. 
18-20. 

The  choice.     Heb.  xi.  24,  25,  26. 

The  promise  to  the  faithful.  Mark  x. 
29,  30;  2  Cor.  vi.  18;  Rev.  ii.  10. 

Pray  without  ceasing,  and  to  watch 
and  be  sober,  i  Thess.  v.  17 ;  Rom. 
sii.  12 ;  Mark  xiii,  33 ;  i  Peter  iv.  7 ; 
Eph.  vi.  18  ;  Col.  iv.  2  :  Mark  xiv.  38  ; 
1  Peter  •v.  8;  Thess.  v.  6;  Matt, 
rxvi.  41. 

To  bear  one  another's  burdens  Gal. 
vi.  2  ;  I  Thess.  v.  11,  14. 


DOUBT. 
I.  We  should   Doubt    Self.      Prov. 
xxviii.  26;  Matt.  xxvi.  33,  34 ;  Rom.  xi. 
I  20;  I  Cor.  X.   12;  Phil.  ii.  21.     2.  We 
should  Doubt  Man.    Jer.  xvii.  5 ;  Isa. 
ii.  22  ;  Psa.  cxlvi.  3,  4  ;  cxviii.  8,  9.     3. 
We  should   Doubt  the  World,     Luke 
xii.  19,  20  ;  I  Tim.  vi.  g,  10  ;  Job  x^vii. 
8;  James  iv.   13-15;  Luke  xv.   14,     4, 
We  should  not  Doubt  God.   Psa.  xxxiv. 
8 ;  Isa,  xxvi,  3,451  Tim.  vi.  17 ;  Heb. 
xi.  6.     5.  We  should  not  Doubt  Christ. 
John  xiv.  I  ;  vi.  21  ;  2  Tim.i.  12  ;  Matt, 
xiv.  31.     6.  Warning  against  Doubt,    i 
John  V.  10;  Rev.  xxi.  8;  Mark  xii.  29; 
Heb.    iii.    12.      7.  Rewards  of   Trust. 
Psa.  ii.  12  ;  Isa.  xxx.  18  ;  Jer.  xvii.  7,  8  ; 
Matt.  xxi.  21  ;  Prov.  xvi.  20, 

Rev.  J.  H.  Vincent,  D.D. 

•*  TRUST." 

Whom  not  to  trust. — 2  Cor.  i.  9  ; 
Prov.  xxviii.  26 ;  Job.  viii.  13-15  ;  i  Tim. 
vi.  17  ;  Psa.  xlix.  6,  8;  Gal.  ii.  16;  Eph. 
ii.  9,  etc.  ;  Isa.  xxxi.  i  ;  Psa.  cxlvi.  3. 

Whom  to  trust. — Isa.  xxvi.  4  ;  Matt, 
xii.  18-21 ;  Psa.  xcix.  2-4 ;  Psa.  xx.  7 ; 
Psa.  ix.  10 ;  i  John  v.  9-13 ;   Acts  viii. 

38. 39.     . 

When  to  trust. — Psa.  Ixii.  8 ;  Psa.  Ivi. 
3,  4  ;  Mark  v.  36  ;  Isa.  1.  10  j  Heb.  iii, 
17-19  ;  Job  xiii.  15  ;  Matt.  viii.  23-26. 

How  to  trust, — Prov.  iii.  5  ;  Rom.  x, 
9,  10  ;  Heb.  xi.  6  j  Psa.  xxxiv.  8  j  Isa. 
xii,  2 ;  Psa.  xviii.  2 ;  Rom.  xii.  1,2;  Jas, 
i.  27 ;  Rom.  vi.  1-6  ;  Amos  iii.  3  ;  Gal. 
ii.  20;  Phil.  iii.  3-8 ;  Phil.  i.  20,  21 ;  iv. 

6.  7. 

Result  of  trusting  man, — ^Jer.  xvii.  5, 
6;  Job  viii.  13-16;  Job  xxvii.  8 ;  Isa. 
xxx.  I,  2  ;  Matt.  vii.  26,  27;  Exod.  xii. 
.29,  30  ;  xiv.  23-31  ;  I  Kings  xviii.  17-29  j 
Luke  xvi.  23,  24  ;  Rev.  xxi,  8. 

Result   of  trusting  Cod. — Jer.  xvii.  7. 


2l6 


;.S    VO.^    UIBLE    READINGS. 


8;  Prov.  xvi.  20 ;  Luke  xviii.  13,  14; 
Psa.  Cxxv.  I ;  xxxvii.  3-6  ;  xxxiv.  8-22  ; 
Prov.  xxix.  25  ;  Rom.  viii.  1-35  ;  Isa. 
ivii.  12,  13;  Psa.  xiv.  3-8 ;  Psa.  xxviii. 
7  ;  Psa.  V.  II,  12  ;  Exod.  xii.  21-23  ;  xiv. 
13-18  ;  XV.  ;  I  Kings  xviii.  30-39-;  John 
V.  24  ;  Eph.  i.  12-14 ;  Rom.  v.  1-3  ;  Dan. 
vi.  16-24  ;  Dan.  iii.  23-28;  Matt.  vii.  24, 
25 ;  Rev.  vii.-i3-i7. 

"  Ifave  faith  in  God."  S.  R.  B. 


WHAT  WE  MAY  LEARN  FROM 
THE  "TAKES"   OF  THE   BIBLE? 

Take,  Rev.  xxii,  17. 

Receive,  Isa.  i.  12,  , 

Accept,  Lev.  xxvi.  41. 

The  fatal  (mis)-take,  Gen.  iii.  6 ;  an- 
other in  Luke  xv.  13  ;  and  last,  Rev. 
xxii.  17,  its  great  remedy. 

Take  cup  of  salvation,  Psa.  cxvi.  13. 

Take  hold  of  my  strength,  Is.  xxvii.  5. 

Take  hold  of  my  covenant,  Isa.  Ivi. 
4,  6  ;  Ixiv.  7. 

Take  with  you  words,  Hosea  iv.  2. 

He  said : — 

Take  eat  my  body.  Matt.  xxvi.  26. 

Take  this  cup,  Luke  xxii.  17;  xviii.  17 

Take  my  yoke.  Matt.  xi.  29. 

Take  up  cross,  Mark  x.  21. 

Take  up  cross  daily  too,  Luke  ix,  23. 

Receive  one  another  as  He  received  us 
Rom.  XV.  7  ;  Luke,  xv,  2 ;  Matt,  xviii.  5. 

Take  unto  you  the  whole  armour,  etc. 
Eph.  vi.  13. 

Armour  of  God,  Eph.  vi.  16. 

Taking  shield  of  faith.  Eph.  vi.  16. 

Take  helmet  of  salvation,  Eph.  vi.  17. 

Take  water  of  life,  Rev.  xxii.  17. 

THE  "  ONE  THINGS  "  OF  THE 
BIBLE, 

1.  The  world's — Confusion,  Acts  xix. 
22. 

2.  Befalleth  all — Death,  Eccl.  iii.  19. 

3.  Needful — Conversion,  Luke  x.  42. 

4.  Lacking — Decision,  Mark  x,  21. 

5.  Known — Assurance,  John  ix.  25. 

6.  To  do — Progress,  Phil.  iii.  13. 

.7.  Desired — Communion,  Ps.  xxvii.  4. 

8,  Never  fails — Lord's  promise,  Josh, 
xxiii   14. 

9.  Forgotten — Lord's  Coming,  2  Pet. 
iii.  8. 


2.  Teach  me  thy  way,  Ps.  xxvii,  11  ; 
John  xiv.  6  ;  Prov.  xvi.  25  ;  Ps.  xxxii.  8. 

3.  Teach  me  thy  paths.    Ps.  xxv.  4  ; 

Prov.  iii.  13-17;  iv.  18  ;    Eph.  ii.  17-24; 
Titus  ii.  11-13. 

4.  Teach  me  thy  statutes,  Ps.  cxix. 
12  ;  xix.  7,  II  ;  cxix.  26,  27,  130  ;  John 
viii.  32  ;  vii.  17  ;  Jas.  i.  21  ;  Acts  xvii. 
II  ;  I  John  v.  13. 

5.  Teach  me  to  pray,  Luke  xi.  i  ; 
Mark  i.  35  ;  Matt.  vi.  5-15  ;.  Luke  vi.  12  j 
Acts  xvi.  25  ;  Gen.  xxxii.  24,  26. 

6.  Teach  me  thy  judgments,  Ps.  cxix. 
108  ;  Prov.  iii.  11,  12  ;  Ps.  xix.  9  ;  Heb. 
xii.  6,  8  ;  Rev.  iii.  19  ;  Hab.  iii.  17,  19  ; 
Psa.  xciv.  12. 

7.  Teach  me  to  number  my  days,  Ps. 

xc.    12 ;   Eccl.     xii.  ;  Job    xix.    25-27 ; 

Deut.  xxxii.  29  ;  Matt.  xxv.  i-io  ;  i  Cor. 

XV.  55-58  ;  John  ix.  4 ;  2  Tim.  iv.  7,  8. 

S.  R.  B. 


TEACH  ME. 

I.  Teach  me  the  way  of  salvation, 
Ps.  xxv.  5  ;  Matt.  xi.  28,  30 ;  John  '^'" 
e6  ;  John  v   24  :  Acts  xvi.  ^i. 


XIV. 


ONE  OR  OTHER :  WHICH  ? 

Alienated  from  the  life  of  God.  Eph. 
vi.  18 ;  or.  Reconciled  to  God,  Rom.  v.  10. 

Condemned  already,  John  iii.  18  ;  or, 

No  condemnation,  Rom.  viii.  i. 

Far  off;  or.  Nigh  by  the  blood  of 
Christ,  Eph.  ii.  13. 

Dead  in  sins,  Eph.  ii.  i ;  or,  Quicken- 
ed with  Christ,  Eph.  ii.  5. 

Sins  red  like  ciimson ;  or,  White  as 
snow,  Isa.i.  18. 

Without  Christ,  Eph.  ii.  12 ;  or,  In 
Christ,  Eph.  ii.  13. 

In  the  flesh  ;  or,  In  the  Spirit,  Rom. 
viii.  9. 

Without  hope,  Eph.  ii.  12 ;  or,  The 
hope  of  glory.  Col.  i.  27. 

THANKSGIVING. 
Thanksgiving  is  the  employment  of 
those  who  are  in  the  immediate  presence 
of  God.  Rev.  vii.  9-12.  And  therefore 
in  giving  thanks  we  approach  their 
condition,  as  is  indicated  in  Psalm  cxl. 
13.  Thanklessness  is  the  characteristic 
of  sinful  man,  man  gone  away  from  God. 
Rom.  i.  21.  If  our  great  English  poet 
has  expressed  the  truth  with  jregard  tj 
thanklessness,  and  we  think  he  has,  in 
these  words  put  into  the  mouth  of  Kinj; 


NOTES    hOR    BIB  Hi    KKADINGS. 


217 


X^ar:  "How  sharper  than  a  serpent's 
tooth  it  is." 

To  have  a  thankless  child — how  bitter 
a  thing  sin  must  be  to  God  since  it 
bears  this  fruit  in  man.  Thanklessness 
is  the  fruit  of  a  sinful  and  depraved 
aiature  ;  thankfulness  is  the  fruit  of  a 
regenerated  heart.  It  flows  naturally 
from  it  as  light  from  the  sun.  And  yet. 
it  is  not  left  to  our  free  action,  it  is 
•enjoined  upon  us. 

1.  As  a  Duty.  Ps.  1.  14  ;  I  Thess.  v. 
i3  ;  Ephes.  V.  20. 

How  solemnly  it  is  urged,  "  This  is 
the  will  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus  con- 
cerning you."  When  ?  Always.  In  times 
of  adversity  as  well  as  in  times  of  pros- 
perity. For  what?  Everything.  All 
things.  Examples.  Paul  in  all  his 
■epistles.  Job  in  his  desolation.  Job  i. 
.20,  21.  But  the  word  does  not  rest  in 
generalities,  it  descends  to  particulars, 
as;  For  Christ,  i  Cor.  ix.  15.  For 
saving  grace.  Col.  i.  12.  For  peace 
of  God  in  the  heart.  Col.  iii,  15.  In 
-all  speeeh  and  action.  Col.  iii.  17.  For 
.food.  I  Tim.  iv.  4.  Examples.  Jesus. 
John  vi.  II.  Paul.  Acts  xxvii.  35.  In 
-worship.  Ps.  c.  4;  Ps.  cxxii.  4;  Ps. 
•xcv.  2.  Thanksgiving  is  the  essence  of 
worship.  In  the  xcii.  Ps.,  which  is  a 
song  for  the  Sabbath,  thanksgiving  is 
the  keynote.  David  (i  Chron.  xvi.  41) 
.and  Hezekiah  (2  Chron.  xxxi.  2)  Ap- 
pointed priests  and  Levites  whose 
-special  duty  was  to  give  thanks — to 
offer  this  spiritual  sacrifice ;  now  we 
^are  the  priests  who  are  to  offer  the 
-•sacrifice  of  praise  to  God  continually, 
that  is  the  fruit  of  our  lips  giving  thanks 
to  his  name.  For  victory  over  sin  and 
•death  and  the  grave,     i  Cor.  xv.  57. 

2.  What  are  the  motives  to  Thanks- 
^vifti^'?  These  all  spring  from  the 
-character  of  God  and  his  action  toward 
■us,  as  His  goodness  and  mercy.  Psalm 
•cvi,  I .  Psalm  xxxvi,  celebrates  his  mercy 
in  every  department  of  his  great  kingdom 
.and  providence.  His  holiness.  Ps. 
2ixx.  4.-     IT  '^  -^^  ver.     Ps.  Ixxv.  i.     His 


help.  Ps.  xlii,  5.  His  word.  Psalm 
cxix.  62.  Because  it  magnifies  him. 
Ps.  Ixix.  30.  It  dwells  upon  his  grace, 
his  love,  his  excellencies. 

3,  What  are  the  Results  of  Thanks- 
giving ?  We  may  mention  all  in  one, 
the  glory  of  God  fills  the  heart  as  it 
filled  the  Temple.  2  Chron.  v.  13,  14. 
As  Christians  we  ought  earnestly  to 
cultivate  a  spirit  of  thanksgiving,  for  it 
is  one  of  the  most  beautiful,  and  bene- 
ficial we  can  have,     "  Evermore  thanks, 

the  exchequer  of  the  poor." 

James  A.  R.  Dicksom. 


MEEKNESS. 

Blessed  are  the  meek.  Ps.  xxxvii.  11. 

Inherit  the  earth,  Matt.  v.  5. 

Contentment,  peace  of  mind,  kindness, 
tenderness.  , 

Promises  for  the  meek  : — 

Eat  and  be  satisfied,  Ps.  xxii.  26. 

Preach  good  tidings  to  the  meek,  Isa, 
Ixi.  I.     . 

Save  all  the  meek,  Psa.  Ixxvi.  9. 

Guide  in  judgment,  teach  His  way. 
Psa.  XXV.  9. 

Lifteth  up  the  meek,  Psa.  cxlvii.  6, 

Beautify  the  meek,  Psa.  cxlix.  4. 

Increase  their  joy,  Isa.  xxii.  19. 

Fruit  of  the  Spirit,  meekness.  Gal.  v.23. 

We  are  all  to  seek  meekness  : — 

Seek  the  Lord  ye  meek,  Zeph.  ii.  3. 

Receive  with  meekness,  Jas.  i.  21. 

Follow  after  meekness,  i  Tim.  vi.  11. 

Walk  with  meekness,  Eph.  iv.  2. 

Put  on  meekness,  Col.  iii.  12. 

Show  meekness  to  all  men,  Titus  iii.  2. 

Show  meekness,  James  iii.  13. 

Instruct  in  meekness,  2  Tim.  ii.  25. 

Answer  with  meekness,  i  Pet.  iii.  15. 

And  they  sing  the  song  of  Moses,  the 
servant  of  God,  an4  the  song  of  the 
Lamb,  Rev.  xv.  3. 

The  meekness  and  gentleness  of 
Christ,  2  Cor.  x.  11. 

Servant  of  God  :  The  meekest  of  all 
the  men  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 

Son  of  God :  Learn  of  me,  I  am  meek. 


GENTLENESS. 

Fruit  of  Spirit,  Gal.  v.  22. 

Christ's  example,  2  Cor.  x.  I ;  Psalm 
xviii.  35  ;  Matt.  viii.  3  ;  xix.  13-15. 

We  are  to  be  gentle,  i  Thess.  ii.  7  ;  -^ 
Tim.  ii.  24-25;  Jas.         :,  .  i  Pet.  ii.  18. 


ai8 


NOTES    FOR    ^IBLE    READINGS. 


A  STUDY. 

CONTENTS  OF  CHAPTER  I.  MARK'S 
GOSPEL. 

(The  numbers  give  the  verses.) 

Three  principal  persons  mentioned  — 
John   the  Baptist :    (4)  Preached  r*> 

pentance  —  (4)     Baptized    Jesus —  (7) 

Pointed  to  Christ. 

Jesus  Christ :  (9)  Baptized  by  John — 

,13)  Tempted  of  Satan — (35)  Prayed  to 
God. 

Satan:  (13)  Tempted  Jesus — (23,  32) 
Got    possession  of   men — (25,   34,   39) 
Cast  out  by  Jesus. 
Three  Titles  given  to  Jesus — 

By  Mark:  (i)  Jesus  Christ.  By  God: 
(17)  My  beloved  Son.     By  Satan:  (24) 
Holy  One  of  God. 
Three  Miracles  wrought  by  Jesus — 

(23)     On    an    unclean    spirit  —  (30) 
Simon's  wife's  mother — (40)  I^per. 
Three  Contrasts — 

(8)     Baptism    of  John— baptism    of 
Jesus.       (13)      Satan    tempts  —  angels 
minister.      (23;  24)    Unclean  spirit  of 
devil — Holy  One  of  God. 
Four  Disciples — 

Simon  and  Andrew,  James  and  John : 
(16,  17)  Called— (18.  20)  Forsake  all— 
(18,20)  Follow  Jesus. 
A  remarkable  result  of  disobedience — 

Because  the  healed  leper  published  his 
cure  (when  Jesus  told  him  to  "  say 
nothing" — verse  44),  Jesus  "could  no 
more  openly  enter  into  the  city  "  (verse 
45).  

THE  CHURCH  AND  ITS 

OFFICERS. 

(i  Cor,  xii.  27-31.) 

Verse  27.    Ye,  i  Cor.  i.  1,2;  Body,  1 

Cor.  xii.  12 ;  Col.  ii.  19 ;  Members,  Rom. 

3di.  4,  5  ;   Eph.  v.  28-32  ;   z  Cor.  vi.  17  ; 

John  xvii.  20-23. 

Verse  28.  Church — its  aim,  I  Tim. 
iii.  15;  Eph.  iii.  lo;  li.  20-22;  God 
bath  set,  Jer.  iii.  15  ;  Eph.  iv.  4-6;  iv. 
II  ;  I  Cor.  xii.  7-11 ;  Gifts  differ,  i  Cor. 
Kn.  4-6 ;  Rom.  xii.  6-8. 


X.  39-42  ;  I  Cor,  xiv.  12  ;  More  excellent 
way,  I  Cor.  xiii.  i  ;  Col.  iii.  14  ;  i  Peter 
iv.  8  ;  I  Cor.  xiii.  13  ;  Rom.  xii.  g  ;  r 
Cor.  xiii.  4-8. 

Rev.  J.  H.  Vincent,  D.D. 


MEEKNESS. 

Fruit  of  Spirit,  Gal.  v.  23. 

Christ's  example.  2  Cor.  x.  i  ;  Matt., 
xi.  29;  Isa.  liii.  7 ;  Matt.  xii.  18-20; 
Luke  xxii.  63-65  ;  xxiii.  11,  32-39. 

We  are  to  be  meek,  Eph.  iv.  1-2  ;  Col.. 
iii.  12-13  ;  I  Pet.  iii.  4 ;  Jas.  i,  21  ;  Gal., 
vi.  I ;  I  Pet.  iii.  15  ;  2  Tim.  ii.  25, 

Promises  to  the  meek,  Ps.  xxii.  26 ;. 
XXV.  9  ;  xxxvii.  11  ;  cxlvii.  6  ;  cxlix.  4  ; 
Isa.  xxix.  19  ;  Matt.  v.  5. 


THE  MOON  AN  EMBLEM  OF 
THE  CHURCH. 

Ps,  xix.  4,  5  ;    Song  of  Sol.  vi.    10  ^ 

Gen.  i.  17  ;  Eph.  ii.  6  ;  Ps.  viii.  3 ;  John. 

XV.  16 ;  Ps.  Ixxxix.  37  ;  Eph.  iii.  10  ;  Job 

xxxi.  26;  Isaiah  ii.  5  ;    Deut.  xxxiii.  14 
John  XV.  16  ;  Isaiah  xxx.  26. 

AS— SO. 

As  Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent. .  .  .so- 
must  the  Son  of  Man  be  lifted  up,  that 
whosoever  believeth  in  Him  should  not 
perish.but  have  eternal  life.  John  iii.  14 
15- 

As  thou  hast  believed,  sa  be  it  done- 
unto  thee.     Matt.  viii.  13. 

As  far  as  the  east  is  from  the  west,  sa> 
far  hath  He  removed  our  transgressions 
Psalm  ciii.  12, 

As  we  have  received  Christ  Jesus  the 
Lord,  so  walk  ye  in  Him.     Col.  ii.  6, 

As  the  Father  hath  loved  me,  so  have 
I  loved  you.     John  xv.  3. 

As  the  bridegroom  rejoiceth  over  the: 
bride,  so  shall  thy  God  rejoice  over  thee 
Isaiah  Ixii.  5. 

As  ye  have  received  of  us  how  ye  ought 

to  walk,  so  ye  would  abound  more,  &c.  . 
I  Thess.  iv.  i. 

As  thy  days,  so  shall  thy  strength  be.. 
Deut.  xxxiii.  25. 

i      As  Thou  hast  sent  Me  into  the  world,.. 
so  have  I  sent  them.    John  xvii.  18. 

As  He ....  is  holy,  so  be  ye  holy,  l: 
Peter  i.  15. 

As  He  is,   so  are  we  in  this  world. 


Verse  31.     Best  Gift,  Matt.  v.  G  ;  Luke]  i  John  iv.  17. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS, 


2191 


THE    "AS 


AND  -SO 
BIBLE. 


OF   THE 


1.  The  as  and  so  of  God's  sovereignty. 
Isaiah  Iv.  9  ;  Micah  iv.  g  ;  Rom.  xi.  33  ; 
Isaiah  Iv.  8. 

2.  The  as  and  so  of  God's  love  and 
mercy.  Psalm  ciii,  13;  Isaiah  Ixvi.  13; 
Isaiah  liv.  9,  10  ,  Psalm  ciii.  11,  12. 

^   3.  The  as  and   so  of  imparting.        i 
Peter  iv.  10  ;  Matt.  x.  8. 

4.  The  as  and  so  of  the  uncertainty  of 
life.     Psalm  ciii.  15. 

5.  The  as  and  so  of  example.  Read 
I  Peter  ii.  21. 

(i.)  His  obedience  to  His  Father, 
[ohn  xiv.  31. 

(2.)  Meekness  under  injuries.  Isaiah 
liii.    7. 

(3.)  Readiness  to  forgive.     Col.  iii.  13. 

(4.)  Greatness  of  His  love.  John  xv. 
9  ;  John  XV.  12. 

6.  The  as  and  so  of  degree  of  holiness 
required  of  us.  i  John  iv.  17;  i  Peter 
i,  15  ;  Col.  ii..  6  ;  i  Thess.  iv.  i. 

7.  The  as  and  so  01  encouragement  to 
those  who  work  for  God.    i  Thess.  ii.  4  ; 


ECC,  IX.    14-18. 

Besieged  little  city.     Luke  iv.  6. 
Poor  wise  man.     2  Cor.  viii.  g  ;  i  Cor* 

i.  24. 

By  wisdom  delivered.       i  Cor.i.i8,25, 
None  remembered.     Isaiah  liii.  3. 
Despised.     1  Cor.  i.  18  ;  Heb.  iv.  8, 
Words  heard  in  quiet.      Job  vi.    24 

Ez.  i.  25 ;  Luke  x,  42. 


Isaiah  Iv.   10,  11. 


E. 


PITH    AND    ESSENCE    OF    THE. 
GOSPEL  IN  TWO  WORDS. 

Whosoever,  for  those  without.  Johm 
iii.  16. 

Whatsoever,  for  those  within.  Johrfc 
xiv.    13, 


TWIN   SCRIPTURAL  DOCTRINE.. 

Come  to  Me.  Abide  in  Me.  Believe- 
this  and  all  difficulties  vanish. 

Abide  not  only  for  successful  work, 
but  for  answered  prayer. — John  xv.  4,7. 
Joyful  living. — John  xv.  11.  Actual* 
safety, — ^John  xv.  6. 

Notice  how  often  "in  Christ,"  occura 
in  Ephesians  and  Colossians, 


EVERLASTING. 
Everlasting  life.    John  vi.  4,  7. 
Everlasting  love.     Jer.  xxxi.  3. 
Everlasting  joy.     Isaiah  xli.  7. 
Everlasting  light.     Isaiah  xl.   19. 
Everlasting  consolation.  2  Thess. ii. 16. 
Everlasting  kindness.     Isaiah  liv,  8. 
Everlasting  salvation.     Isaiah  xiv.  17. 
Everlasting  strength.     Isaiah  xxvi.  4. 
Everlastmg  mercy.     Psalm  ciii.  17. 
Everlasting  covenant.     Heb.  xiii.  20. 


THOUGHTS. 

I  thought.     2  Kings  v.  14. 

God  hates  thoughts.     Psalm  cxix.  113, 

Forsake  unrighteous  thoughts.  Isaiah 
Iv.  8. 

Not  hid  from  God.    Job  xlii.  2. 

He  understands  afar  off.  Psalm 
cxxxix.  2. 

He  understands  all  the  imaginations. 
2  Chron.  xxviii.  9. 

Try  me  and  know  my  thoughts. 
Psalm  cxxxii.  23. 

Why  do  thoughts  arise.  Lukexxiv.38. 

Take  no  thought.     Matt.  vi.  25. 

My  thoughts  not  your  thoughts. 
Isaiah  Iv.  8, 

God's  thoughts  towards  us.  Jer.xxix. 
II  ;  Psalm  xl.  5.  i 

How  precious.     Psalm   cxxxix.  17.       I 


WANTED  FOR  OUR  COUNTRY. 

1.  Men  like   Daniel.     Dan.  ix.  3,  4  ; 
Deut.  xi.  25. 

2.  Men  like  Shadrack  and  his  brethren 
Exodus  XX.  4,  5  ;  Dan.  iii.  4,  7,  23, 25,  28^ 

3.  Men  in  authority.  Neh.  xiii.  4-9  ; 
Jude  3,  4  ;  Rev.  xiv.  10,  li. 

4.  Men  like  Paul,  i  Cor.  xii.  ^  . 
ii.  2,  13. 

5.  Men  like  the  Bereans.  Acts  xvii.. 
10.  12  ;  Deut.  xxix.  29  ;  John  xvi.  13  ;, 
Matt.  iv.  10,  II. 

6.  Young  men  likejabez.  2Thess.ii.8. 

7.  Young  women  like  gracious  Ruth.. 
Ruth  i.  16,  17  ;  ii.  11,  12  ;  i  John  iii.  14;. 
Psalm  ci.  1-4. 

8.  Matrons,  like  the  pious  Shunamitc 
2  Kings  iv.  8,  13  ;  Titus  ii.  5  ;  i  Tim.  v.. 

9-  14- 

9.  Fathers,  like  Abraham.     Gen,  xix,. 

19.;  Prov.  X.  21  ;  Luke  xix.  20,  24,  26, 

10.  Brethren,  like  Aaron  and  Hur 
Exodus  xvii.  9-12;  2  Thess.  iii.  i,  2. 

11.  Sisters,  like  Mary  and  Martha.. 
Luke  X.  38,  39;  John  xii.  2;  INIatt. 
XX v.  37-40. 


:a20 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


..  ileads    oi    families,   like    Caleb. 
.-  13  X.2  ;  Num.xiv.24  ;  Joshua  xxiv.15. 
ij.  VV'ives.     Prov,  xxxi.  10-31. 

14.  Mothers,  like  Hannah,  i  Sam.i. 
-lo,  II,  24-28. 

15.  Maidens.  2  Kings  v.  1-4,  15  ; 
Prov.  XV.  23. 

16.  Servants  of  Christ,  like  Barnabas. 
Acts  xi.  22-26;  ix.  27;  Gal.  vi.  2  ;  i 
Thess.  V.  14. 


THE  DIVINE  SHALL. 

1.  As  assuring  us  of  the  saving  power 
iof  faith.  Rom.  i.  17  ;  John  v.  24;  xi. 
25,  26 ;  Acts  X.  43  ;  xvi.  31 ;  Rom.  x.6-9. 

2.  As  assuring  us  of  an  answer  to 
iprayer.  Pro.  viii.  17 ;  Deut.  iv.  29 ; 
Isa.  xl.  31  ;  Job  xxii.  27  ;  Matt,  vi  6; 
■v.  6;  Luke  xi.  13;  John  xvi.  23,  24; 
Luke  xi.  9  ;  John  xv.  7  ;  Luke  xviii.  7,  8  ; 
James  i,  5;  Rom.  x.  13;  Phil.  iv.  19; 
I  John  v.  4,  5. 

3.  As  it  assures  us  of  the  success  of 
God's  word.     Isa.  Iv,  9-13  ;  Num.  xiii. 

•9;  Lukexxi.  33;  iCor.  xv.  58;  Gal.vi.9. 

4.  As  showing  us  the  evil  of  unbelief. 
John  iii.  36  ;  Mark  xi.  24  ;  James  ii.  3  ; 
Matt.  xvii.  19,  20 ;  xiii.  58  ;  John  xi.  40  , 
iii.  33  ;  Matt.  xvii.  20. 

THE  "SHALL  NOTS"  OF  JOHNS 
GOSPEL, 

THE    BELIEVER. 

Shall  not  come  into  condemnation, 
ijohn  v.  24. 

Shall  not  walk  in  darkness.  John 
'fiii.  12. 

Shall  never  hunger.    John  vi.  35. 

Shall  never  thirst.     John  iv.  14. 

Shall  not  be  plucked  out  of  Christ's 
land.    John  x.  28. 

Shall  not  perish.    John  iii.  15. 

Shall  never  die.    John  xi.  26. 

W.  H.  S. 


altogether  in  these  ten   verses  foi   the 
welfare  of  God's  wayfaring  men. 


THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE. 

(Dan.  xii.    i.) 

At  that  time  my  people  shall  be  deUv- 

ered,  every  one  that  shall  be  found  writ- 
I  ten  in  the  book. 

j      Written  in  the  book.     Ex.  xxxii.  32,; 

I  Rev.  XX.  12  ;  Matt.  iii.  16  ;  Rev.  iii.  5  ; 

xxi.  7  ;  Isa.  iv.    3  ;  Luke  x.    20  ;  Phil. 

iv.  3  ;  Heb.  xii.  23  ;  Psa.  Ixi.  8. 

Contrast  (not  written. )     Psa.  Ixix.  28 ; 

Rev.  xiii.  8  ;  xvii.  8  ;    xx.  15.     See  also, 

Ezek.  xiii.  9  ;  Psa.  cxxxix.  16;  Num.  xvi. 

5  ;  John  X.  14  ;  2  Tim.  ii.  19. 

If  our  names  be  written  then.     Rom. 

viii.  16,  17  ;  2  Cor.  i.  22. 


ISAIAH    XXXV. 

The  word  "shall"  occurs  twenty-two 
tijiics  in  this  short  chapter  of  ten  verses. 
And  each  time  it  prefaces  a  promise  of 
•comfort  or  joy  to  God's  people  who 
walk  in  the  way  of  holiness. 

The  "shall"  of  blessing  and  comfort 
'^occurs  nine  times.  Verses  1,2,5,6,  7,  8,  g. 

The  "  shall"  of  Deliverance  occurs 
tcight  times.     Verses  7,  8,  9,  10. 

The  "  shall"  of  joy  occurs  five  times. 
Verses  1,2,  ro. 

There  are  thirty-five  clear  promises 


HAPPINESS. 

Whoso  trusteth  in  the  Lord  happy  is 
he.     Prov.  xvi.  20. 

Happy  is  that  people  whose  God  is  the 
Lord.     Psa.  cxliv.  15. 

Blessed  is  every  one  that  feareth  the 

Lord,   that  walketh   in  His  ways 

Happy  shalt  thou  be,  and  it  shall  be  well 
with  thee.     Psa.  cxxviii.   i,  2. 

HOLD  FAST. 

That  which  is  good,     i  Thes.  v.  2i. 
The  form  of  sound  words.    2  Tim.i.  13. 
The  faithful  word.     Tit.  i.  9. 
The   confidence  and  rejoicing   of   the 
hope.      Heb.  iii.  6. 

Our  profession.     Heb.  iv.  14. 

The  confession  of  our  hope.     Heb.  X. 

•^race.     Heb.  xii.  28.  (margin.) 

HARVEST. 
The  believer's  harvest  time.    John  iv 

The  sinner's  harvest  time.     Prov.  x.  5. 
God's  harvest  time.     Matt.  xiiJ.'jo. 

JUSTIFICATION. 

We  are  justified  judicially  by  God. 
Rom.  viii.  31. 

We  are  justified  meritoriously  by 
Christ.     Isa.  liii.  n. 

We  are  justified  medially  by  faith. 
Rom.  V.  I. 

We  are  justifiel  evidently  bv  works. 
J  as.  ii.  24. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


22K 


HARVEST  LESSONS. 

"  Who  hath  ears  to  hear  let  him  hear.'* 

Matt.  xiii.  19. 

I.  Harvest  time  proclaims  God's 
faithfxdness.  While  the  earth  remaineth, 
seed-time  and  harvest,  and  cold  and  heat, 
and  summer  and  winter,  and  day  and 
night  shall  not  cease.     Gen.  viii.  22. 

2.  Harvest  time  tells  of  God's  goodness. 
Thou  crownest  the  year  with  Thy  good- 

nes  ; the  valleys  are  covered  over 

with  corn ;  they  shout  for  joy,  they  also 
sing.     Psa.  Ixv.  11,  13. 

3.  Harvest  time  is  a  time  for  prayer 
and  work.  The  harvest  truly  is  plenteous 
but  the  labourers  are  few  ;  pray  ye  there- 
fore the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  that  he  will 
send  forth  labourers  into  His  harvest. 
Matt.  ix.  37,  38. 

4.  Harvest  time  is  a  time  of  joy.  They 
joy  before  Thee  according  to  the  joy  in 
harvest,  Isa.  ix.  3.  He  that  goeth  forth 
and  weepeth,  bearing  precious  seed,  shall 
doubtless  come  again  with  rejoicing, 
bringing  his  sheaves  .with  him.  Psalm 
cxxvi.  6. 

5.  Harvest  time  is  a  testing  time.  Let 
both  grow  together  until  the  harvest  : 
and  in  the  time  of  harvest  I  will  say  to  the 
reapers.  Gather  ye  together  first  the 
tares,  and  bind  them  in  bundles  to  burn 
them ;  but  gather  the  wheat  into  My 
bam.     Matt.  xiii.  20. 

6.  Harvest  time  is  connected  with  seed 
time.  Whatsoever  a  man  soweth  that 
shall  he  also  reap.  He  that  soweth  to 
his  flesh  shall  of  the  flesh  reap  corrup- 
tion ;  but  he  that  soweth  to  the  Spirit 
shall  of  the  Spirit  reap  life  everlasting. 
Gal.  vi,  7,  8. 

7.  Harvest  time  speaks  loudly  to  the 
unsaved.  The  harvest  is  past,  the  sum- 
mer is  ended  and  we  are  not  saved,  jer. 
viii.  30. 

"Othat  men  would  praise  the  Lord 
for  His  goodness,  and  for  His  wonderful 
'rt'orks  to  the  children  of  men."  Psalm 
evil.   8. 


THE  HOPE  OF  THE  GOSPEL. 
What  is  our  hope?     1  Thess.  ii.  ig. 

1.  Hope  is  the  desire  for  and  expecta- 
tion of  future  good.     Jer.xvii.7.  Hence,. 

2.  The  sources  of  hope  are : —  i .  Christ 
and  His  resurrection. — i  Peter  i.  3.     2. 
The  gospel  truth. — Col.i.5  ;  and    3.  The- 
entire  revelation  contained  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures. — Rom,  xv.  4. 

3.  The  value  of  hope.     Col.  i.  22,  23;. 
Rom.  viii.  24  ;  i-  Thess.  v.  8. 

4.  Only  believers  have  hope.  Men 
without  God  have  no  hope.  Eph.  ii.  12; 
I  Thess.  iv.  13  ;  Job  xi,  20. 

5.  The  pious  are  now  prisoners  of 
hope.     Zech.  ix.  12  ;  Rom.  viii.  24. 

6.  Hope  is  to  be  waited  for.  Rom. 
viii.  25  ;  I  Thess.  i.  3. 

7.  The  use  to  be  made  of  hope.     i.. 
We  must  not  be  ashamed  of  our  hope.- 
Psalm   cxix.    116;  Rom.   v.  5.     2.  We 
are  to  defend  it  and  be  ready  to  give  a 
reason   for  it. — i    Peter  iii.  15.     3.  We- 
should  so  walk  in  the  Spirit  that  hope 
may  abound  in  us. — Rom.xv.13.    4-  We 
should  thus  cultivate  hope  as  one  of  the- 
three  sister  graces. — i  Cor.  xiii.  13.    5. 
It  should  impart  holy  boldness.; — 2  Cor. 
iii.  12.     6.  We  should  hope  to  the  end., 
— 1  Peter  i.  13. 

8.  The  pious  dead  rest  in  hope.    Prov,. 
xiv.  32  ;  Acts  ii.  26  ;  Acts  xxiii.  6-8. 

9.  There  is  hope  for  the  little  ones.   ' 
Jer.  xxxi.  17. 

10.  The  objects  of  hope.  These  are. 
all  the  good,  the  glory,  the  joy,  the- 
happiness  of  the  eternal  kingdom. 
Paradise,  access  to  the  tree  of  life, 
honors,  crowns,  white  robes,  thrones, 
equality  with  angels,  society  of  the 
redeemed,  and  more  than  has  entered 
into  the  heart  of  man,  are  reserved  for 
those  who  love  God.     i  Cor.  ii.  9. 

11.  There  is  for  all  men  only  one  hope. 
Eph.  iv.  4  J  I  Peter  i.  21  j  Psalm  xiii.  5;, 
Col.  i.  5  ;  Acts  iv.  12. 

It  is  good  that  a  man  should  hope- 
Lam,  iii.  26;  Psalm  cxxx.  7  ;  Titus  ii.13.. 
n   T.  Ta.        . 


222 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


THE   HOPE   OF  THE  GOSPEL. 

1.  A  good  hope.     2  Thess.  ii.  16. 

2.  A  blessed  hope.     Titus  ii.  13. 

3.  A  joyful  hope.    Heb.iii.6 ;  Rom.v.3. 

4.  A  sure,  firm  hope.     Heb.  vi.  18. 

5.  A  living  or  lively  hope,    i  Peter  i.3. 

6.  A  saving  hope.      Rom.  viii.   24. 

7.  A  glorious  hope.     Col.    i.    27. 

8.  A  purifying  hope,     i  John  iii.  3. 


BAALAM'S  PARABLES— PRO- 
GRESSIVE EXPERIENCE. 

1.  Separation,    Num.    xxiii.    11.    12. 

1.  By  blood,  Ex.  xi.  7. 

2.  By  God's  presence,  Ex.  xxxiii.  16. 

2.  Standing,  Num.  xxiii.  21  ;  Isaiah 
xlii.  19  ;  Col.  ii.  10,  16 ;  Eph.  i.  6;  Col. 
i.  22. 

3.  Sanctification,  Num.  xxiv.  5,  6,  7. 

1.  Pilgrim  life,  i  Pet.  ii.  11. 

2.  Fruitfulness,  Psa.  i.  3. 

3.  Dominion,  i  John  iv.  4. 

4.  Glorification,  Num.  xxiv.  17. 

1.  Vision,  I  John  iii.  2, 

2.  Daybreak,  2  Pet.  i.  19. 

3.  Victory,  i  Cor.  xv.  25. 


ROLL 

Thy  way  upon  the  Lord,  Ps.  xxxvii.  5. 

Thy  MTorks,  Prov.  xvi.  3. 

Thy  burden,  Psa.  Iv,  22. 

He  rolled  (margin)  Himself,  Psa.xxii.8. 


RAIN 

Jlis  doctrine,  Deut.  xxxii.  2. 
His  favour,  Prov.  xvi.  15. 
Himself,  Psa.  Ixxii.  6. 


FILLED  . 

With  the  Spirit,  Eph.  v.  18. 

IVith  comfort,  2  Cor.  vii.  4. 

With  joy,  2  Tim.  i.  4  ;  Rom.  xv.  18. 

With  fruits  of  righteousness,  Phil.i.ii. 

With  knowledge  of  His  will.  Col.  i.  9. 

With  good  things,  Luke  i.  53. 

With  all  the  fulness  of  God,  Eph.iii.19. 


I  AM  THINE. 

For  safety,  Psa.  cxix.  94, 
P"or  service,  i  Chron.  xii.  18. 
For  property,  i  Kings  xx.  4. 
For  delivei^ance,  Isa.  Ixiii.  19. 


GIRDED. 
John  xxi.  18  :  Isa.  xlv.  5  ;    Psa.  xviii. 

39  ;  Psa,  ^'^v.  IX. 


THE  WINDOWS  OF  THE  BIBLE. 
The  window  of  deliverance.     Joshua 
ii.  21. 

The  window  of  communion.  (It  was 
"  above".)    Gen.  vi.  16. 

The  window  of  prayer.     Dan.  vi.  10. 

The  window  of  faith,  (because  an 
illustration  of  "  according  to  thy  faith 
be  it  unto  thee.")     2  Kings  xiii.  7. 

The  window  of  contempt.  2  Sara. 
vi.  16,  20,  22. 

The  window  of  disappointment. 
Judges  v.  28-30. 

The  window  of  destruction.     2  Kings 

ix-  30-37- 

These  are  the  windows  we  look 
through.  Now  notice  the  two  windows 
through  which  God  looked. 

1.  A  window  opened  to  destroy. 
Gen.  vii.  11. 

2.  A  window  opened  in  blessing.  Mai. 
iii.  10. 


CHOSEN. 

When? — ^Johji  xv.  16;  2  Thess.  ii.  15 

Whom  ? — I  Cor.  i.  27  ;  Eph.  i.  4, 
i      Why  ? — Deut.  vii.  7. 
I      Whence? — John  xv.  19. 

How  ? — Isa.  xlviii.  10  ;  Psa.  cv.  43. 

Wherefore  ? — Psalm  xxxiii.  13  ;  Eph. 

i.  4;  Num.  xvi.  3-7;    Acts  ix.  15  ;  i  Pet. 

ii.  9  ;  Deut.  xxi.  5  ;  2  Chron.  xxix.  1 1  ; 

2  Tim.  ii.  4;  Psalm  xlvii.   4;  xxv.   12; 

Ixxxix.  3  ;  Isaiah  xliii.  20 ;  xli.  9  ;  Rev 

xvii.  4 ;  Psalm  Ixv.  4. 

Whosoever.     John  iii.  16;  v,  4. 
Whomsoever.     Luke  xii.  48. 
Whatsoever.    John  ii.  5  ;  xiv.  13. 
Whensoever.     Mark  xiv.  7. 
Whithersoever.     Matt.  viii.  19  ;   Rev. 
xiv.  4. 


BIBLE  TESTIMONIES  ABOUT 
INTEMPERANCE. 

Guilty  Cause  of  Sin. — Gen.  iii.  6 ;  i 
John  ii.  16  ,  2  Peter  ii.  13  ;  Numbers 
vi.  3  ;  Gen.  ix.  20-25  ;  Gen.  xix.  32-38  ; 
Zeph.  ii.  9  ;   Prov.  xx.  i ;  xxiii.  29,  30. 

Prohibition. — Proverbs  xxiii.  31,  32  ; 
Eph.  v.  18;  Isa.  V.  22;  Luke  xxi.  34; 
Jer.  XXXV.  6. 

Abstinence. — i  Thess.  v.  22  ;  Rom. 
xiv.  21  ;  I  Cor.  X.  31  ;  i  Cor.  ix.  25,  27, 
I  Cor.  viii.  8-13  ;  Luke  xxii.  17-20 ;  Ex. 
xii.  19  ;  I  Cor.  x.  16  ;  Rom.  xiv.  13 ; 
xiii.  10-14  ;  I  Cor.  vi.  19,  20. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


223 


THE  INVALID'S   NOSEGAY. 

A  refreshing  scnpture  nosegay,  gath- 
ered by  a  friend,  and  affectionately  pre- 
sented to  Zion's  invalids. 

fudges  xvui.  24,  last  clause. 

When  Sick,  John  xi.  3  ;  Ps.  xli.  3  ; 
12.  Cor.  V.  I. 

When  Weak.     Isaiah  xl.  29  ;  xxvi.  4. 

When  Weary.  Isaiah  xxxii.  2  ;  Matt, 
xi.  28. 

When  Oppressed.  Isaiah  xxxviii.14  ; 
Ps.  Iv.  22. 

When  Tempted.  James  i.  12  t  1  Cor. 
ac.  13. 

When  apprehensive  of  Judgment. — 
1  Sam.  vi.  20;  Rom.  viii.  31-34;  Psalm 
'ciii.  13,  14  ;  2  Tim.  iv.  8. 

Please  examine  each,  and  tie  all  up 
'With  faith. 


"WHAT  THINKEST  THOU." 

(Matt.  xvii.  25). 

I. . .  .meditate  on  Thee.     Ps.  Ixiii.  6. 

My  meditation  of  Him  shall  be  sweet. 
Ps.  civ.  34. 

I. . .  .meditate  in  Thy  Word.  Psalm 
'Cxix.  148. 

Thy  servant  did  meditate  in  Thy 
statutes.     Ps.  cxix.  23. 

I  will  meditate  in  Thy  precepts.  Ps. 
cxix.  15. 

Thy  testimonies  are  my  meditation. 
Ps.  cxix.  99 . 

I  muse  on  the  work  of  Thy  hands. 
Ps.  cxliii.  5. 

Not  that  we  are  sufl&cient  of  ourselves 
Ao  think  anything  as  of  ourselves.  2 
Cor.  iii.  5. 

Let  the. .  ..meditation  of  my  heart 
rbe  acceptable  in  Thy  sight.  O  Lord. 
P'5.  xix.  14, 

Bringing  into  captivity  every  thought 
to  the  obedience  of  Christ.     2  Cor.  x.  5 


"TAKE  HEED." 

Luke  xi.  35  ;  Heb.  iii.  12  Deut.  iv.9; 
.1  Tim.  iv.  16;  I  Cor.  x.  12:  1  Cor.iii.io; 
Mark  iv.  24  ;  Luke  viii.  18  :  2  Peter  i. 
19 :  Psalm  xxxix.  i  :  Col.  iv.  17 ;  Luke 
;xii.  15  ;  Hosea  iv.  10. 


JUDGMENT. 

Day  of.  Rev.  xxii.  12  ;  Ecc.  xii.  14  ; 
Matt.  xii.  36  ;  xxv.  31,  32  ;  Rev.  xi.  18  ; 
XX.  1 2 ;  xiv.  6. 

The  judge.  John  v.  22,  27;  xii.  48  ; 
iMatt  vii.  22.  2s  ;  Rom.   xiv.    10,    12  ;  2 


Tim     iv.    r.   8  ;     Acts  x.  42;  xvii.  31  ; 
Matt.  xiii.  41,  42. 

Exhortation.  2  Peter  in.  7,  10,  14  ,  i 
Peter  iv.  17;  Judexiv.  15  ;  Johniii  18.19. 

WHY  SHOULD  WE  LOVE  JESUS  ? 

To  this  question  believers  may  reply 
— because 

He  is  God's  beloved  Son,  in  whom 
His  soul  delighteth.  Matt.  iii.  17;  Isa. 
xlii.  I. 

He  is  full  of  grace  and  truth  ; — the 
brightness  of  God's  glory,  and  the  express 
image  of  His  person.  John  1.  14  j 
Heb.  i.  3. 

He  is  thechiefest  among  ten  thousand, 
and  altogether  lovely.     Cant.  v.  10,  16. 

He  is  fairer  than  the  children  of  men; 
grace  is  poured  into  his  lips.    Psa.xlv.2. 

And  because — 

He  first  loved  us.     i  John  iv.  19. 

He  laid  down  His  life  for  His  sheep. 
John  x.  15. 

He  died  for  us  while  yet  sinners. 
Rom.  V.  8, 

He  suffered  the  just  for  the  unjust, 
that  He  might  bring  us  to  God.  i 
Peter  iii.  18. 

He  made  peace  through  the  blood  of 
His  cross.     Col.  i.  20. 

He  gave  Himself  for  bur  sins.  Gal.i.4. 

He  redeemed  us  to  God  by  His  blood. 
Rev.  V.  9. 

He  hath  loved  us,  and  hath  given 
Himself  for  us.     Eph.  v.  2. 

He  quickened  us  when  we  were  dead 
in  trespasses  and  sins.  John  v.  25  ; 
Eph.  \\.  I. 

He  has  given  unto  us  eternal  life. 
John  X.  28. 

He  has  redeemed  us  from  the  curse 
of  the  law.     Gal.  iii.  13. 

He  has  delivered  us  from  condemna- 
tion.    Rom.  viii.  i. 

He  has  justified  us  by  His  blood. 
Rom.  V.  9. 


"AND  POUR  CONTEMPT  ON  ALL 
MY    PRIDE." 

The  life  and  death  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  are  a  standing  rebuke  to  every 
form  of  pride  to  which  men  are  liable. 
Take  for  instance : 

Pride  of  birth  and  rank.    Matt.xiii.55, 

Pride  of  w^ealth.      Matt.  viii.  20. 

Pride  of  respectability.  John  i.  46. 
Matt.  ii.  23. 


224 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


Pride  of  personal  appearance.  Isaiah 
liii.  2. 

Pride  of  reputation.     Matt.  xi.  19. 

Pride  of  independence,     Luke  viii.  3. 

Pride  of  learning.     John  vii.  15. 

Pride  of  superiority.  Luke  xxii.  27  j 
Phil.  ii.  8  ;  Gal.  iii.  13. 

Pride  of  success.  John  i.  11  j  John 
vii.  5  ;  Isaiah  liii.  3. 

Pride  of  self-reliance. 

Pride  of  ability.    John   v.    19. 

Pride  of  self-will.     John  v.  30. 

Pride  of  intellect.     John  viii.  28. 

Pride  of  bigotry.     Luke  ix.  50. 

Pride  of  resentment.  Luke  xxiii.  34; 
Matt.  xxvi.  50. 

Pride  of  reserve.  Luke  xxvi.38 ;  Matt, 
xxvi.  38 ;  Luke  ix.  22. 

Pride  of  sanctity,     Luke  xv.  2. 

But  God  forbid  that  I  should  glory, 
save  in  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  by  whom  the  world  is  crucified 
tmto  me,  and  I  unto  the  world.  Gal.vi.14. 


THE  CHRISTIAN  WALK. 

1.  Walk   past.     Eph.  ii.  2  ;   i  Cor.  vi. 

11  ;  Col.  i.  21. 

2.  Walk  in  good  works.  Eph.  ii.  10  ; 
Isa.  xliv,  21,  22  ;  2  Cor,  v.  5  ;  Gal,  v. 
22,  23  ;  Phil,  ii.  12,  13  ;  2  Cor.  ix,  8. 

3.  Walk  worthy.     Eph.  iv.  I  j  1  Thes. 

ii.  12  ;  Col.  i.  lo  ;  Phil,  i,  27;  Ps.  i,  i, 

2,  3  ;  I   Pet.   i,   13-16  ;    Heb,   iii.   i  ;  i 
Thes.  iv.  7. 

4.  Walk  humbly  with  God.      Eph.  iv. 

17  ;  Rom.  xii.  i,  2  ;  Rom.  vi.  36  ;  2  Cor. 
vi.  14-16  ;  Amos  iii.  3. 

5.  Walk  in   love.     Eph,  v.  2  ,  John 

XV.  12  J  I  Thes,  iv.  9  ;  i  John  iv.  20-21  ; 
I  John  iii.  14  ;  i  John  ii.  6. 

6.  Walk  as  children  of  light.     Eph.  v. 

8  ;  John  xii.  36,  46  ;  Johti  viii.  12  ;  Isa. 

Ix.   19,  20 ;  I  John  i.  5,  7     Ps.   Ixxxix. 
15,  16. 

7.  Walk  circumspectly.  Eph.  v.  15  ; 
Col.  iv.   5  ;  Ps.  xxvii.  il  ;  I    Thess.  iv. 

12  ;  Neh.  v.  9.  S.  R.  B. 


THE    CHRISTIAN'S  WALK* 
(Eph.  iv.  I.) 

The  first  thing  necessary  for  walk  with 
God  is  : 

To  be  agreed.     Amos.  iii.  3. 

l>-in^  now  reconciled  are  made  nigh. 

L'ph.  i).  17. 


Called  to  God's  kingdom  and  glory„ 
I  Thes.  ii.  12. 

Accepted  in  the  Beloved.     Eph.  i.  6. 

Adopted  as  sons.     Gal,  iv.  5,  6. 

Joint  heirs  with  Christ.  Rom.  viii.. 
17  ;  Gal.  iv.  7. 

Made  children  of  God.     Rom.  viii.  i6^ 

Called  with  an  holy  calling.  2  Tim.  i.  9. 

Therefore  having  this  high  position* 
and  privilege  the  Apostle  exhorts  us  to 

Walk  worthy.  Eph.  ii.  4  ;  i  Thess. 
ii.  12, 

Being  fruitful  as  Christ  Himself.  Col. 
i.  10. 

Hath  chosen  us,  &c.  John  xv,  16  j, 
Eph.  i.  10. 

increasing  in  knowledge  of  God.  CoL 
i.  10. 


HOW  TO  WALK. 


Eph. 


With  lowliness  and  meekness, 
i.  2. 

In  the  Spirit.     Gal.  v.  16. 

By  faith.     2  Cor.  v.  7. 

In  newness  of  life.     Rom.  vi.  4. 

Honestly.     Rom.  xii.  13. 

In  love.      Eph.  v.  2. 

As  children  of  light.     Eph.  v.  7. 

As  ye  have  received   Christ  Jesus   so* 
walk.     Col.  ii.  6. 

In  the  light.     John  viii,  12. 

In    wisdom    towards    those    without^ 
Col.  iv.  5. 

Not  in  darkness,     i  John  i.  6. 

So  walk  as   Christ  walked,   and  learn 
of  Him.     I  John  ii.  6  ;  Matt.  xi.  29, 

Walking    with    God.     He   will   walk 
with  us.     2  Cor.  vi.  16  ;  Lev.  xxvi.  12. 

Take    diligent   heed   to   walk   in    Hi& 
ways.    Jos.  xxii.  5. 

Miss  J.  Wiggington. 


LOVE  TO  THE  BRETHREN. 

The  command.     John  xiii.  34. 

Its  characteristics,  i  Coi*.  xiii.  4-8  ;. 
Rom.  xii.  9,  10  ;    Phil,  ii,  2. 

Its  measure,  i  John  iv.  10,  ii,  with 
John  xiii.  34. 

Is  a  test  of  new  birth,     i  John  iii.  14. 

Is  a  proof  to  the  world  of  our  disciple- 
ship.    John  xiii,  35. 


SEVEN  LINKS  IN  A  WONDROUS 

CHAIN. 

Crucified   together  with  Christ.     GaL 
ii.  20. 

Quickened  together  with  Chrl&t,     CoL 

ii.  13- 

Raised  together  with  Christ.     Eph.  ii.. 


NOTES   FOR   BIBLE    READINGS. 


^25 


Seated  together  with  Christ  in  heavenly  j 
places.     Eph.  ii.  7.  | 

Sufferers  together  with  Christ.  Rom.  ! 
viii.  17.  I 

Heirs  together  with  Christ.     Rom.  viii.  I 

17- 

Glorified  together  with  Christ.     Rom, 
viii.  17. 

.    The  first  and  second  are  seen  at  the 
cross  and  grave  of  Christ. 

The  third  to  the  sixth  form  our  present 
privilege. 

The  seventh  has  its  scene  in  the  glory. 


5.    THE    F.ND   OF   THE  WALK. 

Through  the  valley,  Psa.  xxiii.  ^.     In 

white  (washed),  Rev.  iii.  4.  In  the  light 
of  the  city,   Rev.  xxi.  24. 


WALKING  WITH  GOD  ~  COMPAN- 
lONSHIP  IN  THE  WAL^^. 

I.  Illustrations  :  Adam,  Genesis  iii.  8. 
Enoch,  Gen.  v.  22-24.  Noah,  Gen.  vi.  9. 
Must  of  necessity  agi-ee  with  each  other. 
Amos  iii.  3. 

WHERE  THEY  WALK. 

Not  in  the  counsel  of  the  ungodly.  Ps. 
1.  I.  Not  after  the  flesh.  2  Cor.  x.  2. 
Not  according  to  the  course  of  this  world. 
Eph.  ii.  2. 


THE  LORD  JLSUS. 

1.  The  Lord  Jesus  as  He  was  promis* 
ed  to  our  first  parents.  The  seed  who 
should  bruise  the  head  of  the  serpent,  be 
their  deliverer.     Gen.  iii.  15  ;  iv.  i. 

2.  The  Lord  Jesus  as  He  was  promis- 
i  ed  to  Abraham      The  seed  in  whom  all 

the  families  of  the  earth  should  be  bless- 
ed. Gen.  xii.  1-3  ;  xxii.  15-18  :  John 
viii,  56  ;  Gal.  iii.  16. 

3.  The  Lord  Jesus  was  to  Jacob  the 
angel  which  redeemed  him  from  all  evil. 
Gen.  xlviii.  15,  16.  And  the  Shiloh 
which  should  come,  unto  whom  the  gath- 
ering Of  the  people  should  be.  Gen.  xlix. 
10. 


4.  To  Moses  Jesus  was  the  angel  of  the 

Lord's   presence,  his  leader  and  guide. 

Ex.  xiii.  21,  22  ;  xiv,   24,  25  ;  Num.  ix. 

'  15.23  ;    X.     33,    34 ;    Deut.    i.  33  ;  Ps. 

They  walked   on    earth,   but  always   ixxviii.  14 ;   Ex.  xxxiii.  13-15  ;  xxiii.  20, 


away  from  the  world.  Noah  from  the 
flood  ;  Abraham  from  Mesopotamia  and 
Sodom  ;  Moses  from  the  throne  of 
Egypt,  Heb.  xi.  24-26  ;  Israel  from' 
Egypt  and  through  the  wilderness.  Ex, 
xiv.  29  ;  Deut.  ii.  7 ;  Job  through  dark- 
ness,  Job   xxix.   3  ;  David  in   midst  of 


21,  23  ;  Isa.  Ixiii.  9  ;  Iv.  4.     Is  so  still. 
John  X.  2,  3,  4. 

5.  Jesus  as  Captain  of  the  Lord's 
host.  Josh.  V.  13-15  ;  Isa.  Iv.  4  ;  Heb. 
ii.  10  ,  2  Tim.  ii.  3.  The  drawn  sword 
— no  hesitation  in  the  conflict,  and  no 
quarter  to  the  enemy.     Christ's  soldiers 


trouble,  Psa.  cxxxviii.  7  ;  Isaiah  through  |  committed  to  warfare  with  world,   flesh, 
fire  and   water,  Isa.    xiiii.   2  ;    Daniel  in  j  &c.      No    neutrality.      Matt.    xii.     30. 

and  out  of  the  den,  Dan.  vi.  22  ;Peter  on|-Enej;nies   mighty.      Eph.    vi,    12.       No 
the  water,  Matt,  xiv.  29  ;  Apostles  in  and 
out  of    prison.    Acts    iv.  16  ;     John   on 
Patmos,  Rev.  i.  22. 

3.    HOW    THEY   WALK. 

In  the  light,   Ex.   xiii.    21  ,  John  viii. 
12.     In  safety  and  on  dry  land,   Ex.  xiv. 
22  ;  Josh.  iii.  17.     At  liberty.   Psa.  cxix,  | 
45  ;  Dan.  iii.  25.     Humbly,   Mic.  vi.  8. 
In   peace,    Mai.    ii.   6.     By  faith,  2  Cor.  \ 

•7- 

4.    WHO    WALK. 

The    redeemed,    Isa.    xxxv.   9.     The 
lame,  Matt.  xi.  5.     The  saved,  Rev.  xxi..  i 
24.  ' 

^5 


\  strengUi  to  cope  with  them.  2  Chron. 
XX.  12.  Our  strength  is  in  the  Lo.a. 
Eph.  vi,  10.  The  battle  is  His — the  es- 
ponsibility  His.  2  Chron.  xx..  Ours  to 
obey  orders.  His  plans  may  not  be  what 
we  would  have  chosen.  His  power  and 
wisdom  infinite.  Hewilllead  Hispeople 
on  to  victory,   i  Cor.  xv.  57;  2  Cor.  ii.  14. 

6.  The  Lord  Jesus  a.s  Redeemer  Kins- 
man. Job  xix  25-27  ;  Lev.  xxv  25  ; 
Ixvii,  49  ;  Ruth  ii  20  •  iv  14  ;  Jer.  xxxii 
7,8. 

We  are  in  the  position  of  the  brother 
who  is  waxen  poor,   and   has  sold  back 


226 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


himself  and  his  inheritance.  Rom.  iii  9- 
24  ;  vi  16  ;  vii.  14  ;  i  Kings  xxi  21,  25  ; 
2  Kings  xvii  1 7  ;  Isa.  Hi  3. 

Man  cannot  redeem  himself  or  his 
brother.  Job  xxxvi  18,  19  ;  Psa.  xlix  7, 
8  ;  Matt,  xvi  26  ;  Mark  x  26,  27. 

The  Redeemer  must  be  near  of  kin  to 
have  the  right  to  redeem.  Lev.  xxv.  48, 
49  ;  Ruth  ii.  20,  margin.  This  Jesus  is. 
Heb.  ii.  9-18.  As  man  Jesus  has  the 
right  ;  as  God,  He  has  the  power  to  re- 
deem. Isa.  xlvii.  4  ;  Psa.  Ixxviii.  35  ; 
Isa.  xliv.  6  ;  Luke  i.  68  ;  Job  xxxiii.  23, 
24  ;  Isa.  xlix.  24,  25  ;  Ixiii.  I  ;  Ps.  Ixviii, 
18  ;  Eph.  i.  14  ;  Acts  xx.  28  ;  i  Cor.  vi. 
19,  20  ;  I  Pet.  i.  3-6  ;    xviii.  19  ;    John 

viii.    36  ;  Heb.    ii.  14  ;    i    Peter  ii.   9. 
Purchased  people — see  margin. 

Not  a  stranger.  Job  xix, — see  mar- 
gin :  John  X.  4,  5,  14  ;  i  Pet.  i.  8. 

Miss  L.  Howard. 


those  who  give  a  tenth.     Mai.   iii,  10 
Prov.  iii.  9. 

Examp.es  oi  giving.  Heb.  vii.  i.  In 
Heb.  vii.  3,  we  tind  that  Melchis^dcc 
was  a  type  of  Christ.  Made  like  uiito 
the  Son  of  God.  Abraham  the  fatner 
of  the  faithful  was  a  type  of  the  Chris- 
tian. If  then  the  type  of  the  Christian 
gave  to  the  type  of  Christ  a  te^ith  :  how 
much  more  shoul'  /o  give  to  Christ  ? 
who  for  our  sakes  b^jame  poor,  that  we 
through  his  poverty  might  be  made 
rich.  See  how  the  early  Christians 
gave.     Acts  ii.  44  ;  iv.  34. 

General  rules  laid  down  for  giving. 
Matt.  X.  8  ;  Luke  vi.  38  ;  2.  Cor.  ix.  7  ; 
viii.  7.  M.  D.  M.' 


FOLLOWING  JESUS. 

FOLLOWING  JESUS — THE  COMMAND^ 

1.  Follow  Me.   John  i.  43  ;  Luke  ix.  59. 

Equally  applicable  to  us  now. 

It  is  the  mark  of  the  Lord's  people. 
The  sheep  follow  Him  for  they,  know 
His  voice.  John  x.  4.  My  sheep  hear 
My  voice  and  they  follow  Me.  John  x. 
a 7.  These  are  they  which  follow  the 
Lamb  whithersoever  He  goeth.  Rev. 
xiv.  4. 

2.  How  are  we  to  follow  Jesus  in  His 
humility.  Let  this  mind  be  in  you, 
which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus.  Phil.  ii. 
5-8.  I  have  given  you  an  example  that 
ye  should  do  as  I  have  done  to  you.  J  no. 
xiii.  3-17. 

3.  Follow   Jesus   in    His    meekness, 

gentleness,  and  readiness  to  forgive,     i 
Pet.  ii.  21-23. 

4.  Follow  Jesus  in  His  entire  devotion 
<to  His  Father's  will.    John  iv.  34. 

Miss  L.  H. 


A  GOOD  ACTION. 

Three  things  enter  into  its  compoc;- 

tion,  viz.,  a  right  principle,  a  right  rule, 
and  a  right  end. 

The  right    principle   is  the  love  of 

God.     2  Cor  V.  14,  15. 

The  right  rule  is  the  Word  of  God. 
2  Tim.  iii.  16,  17. 

The  right  end  is  the  glory  of  God. 

1  Cor.  X.  31. 

Be  all  my  heart  and  all  my  days,  i 
Thess.  V.  23. 

Devoted  to  my  Saviour's  praise. 
Col.  i.  10. 

And  let  my  glad  obedience  prove. 
John  xiv.  21. 

How  much  I  owe,  how  much  I  love. 

2  Cor.  viii.  9, 

"  Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O  God  , 
and  renew  a  right  spirit  within  me." 
Ps.  ii.  10. 


ON  GIVING. 
God  claims  a  tenth  of  our  possessions. 
Lev.  xxvii.  30  ;  Num.  xvii.  21. 

God    promises    a  rich    blessing    to 


'THIS  GREAT  SIGHT."      . 
Exodus  iii.  3. 
Who  will  shew  us  any  Good  ? 

I  will  shew  thee  greai  and  mighty  things. 
Jer.  xxxiii.  3. 

God  is  the  Lord  who  hath  shewed  us 
light.     Ps.  cxviii.  27. 

He  hath  shewed  strength  vi'x'Ca.  His  arm. 
Luke  i.  51. 

His  righteousness  hath  He  openly 
shewed.     Ps.  xcviii.  2 

The  Lord  our  God  hath  shewed  us 
Ills  glory.    Deut,  v.  24. 

He  hath  shewed  me  His  viavveU.>:is 
kindness.     Ps.  xxxi.  21. 

Grace  hath  been  shewed  from  the 
Lord.     Ezra  ix.  8. 

Shewing  mercy  unto  thousands.     Ex. 

XX.  t). 

Shewing  hints  S.  of  Sol.  ii.  9, 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


227 


GLAD  TIDINGS.  |      We  come  now  to  the  New  Testament. 

Ihe  "  Glad  Tidings"  01  a  Saviour  and    and  here  all  the  "  fear  nots"  are  Jesus' 
His  finished  salvation,  .are  called  in  one  i  own.     Matt.  x.  26. 


word,  "  The  Gospel!' 

By  "faith"  we  look  unto  it. — Isa. 
xlv.  22. 

By  "  understanding"  we  look  into  it. — 
Eph.  i.  17-23. 

By  "  hope"  we  look  through  it. — i 
Pet.  i.  13. 

By  the  first  we  look  unto  it  trustfully. 

By  the  second  we  look  into  it  in- 
telligently. 

By  the  third  we  look  through  it 
expectantly. 

Each  prepares  for  its  successor,  and 
all  aid  each  other.  The  first  invariably 
precedes.  We  first  believe,  then  we  feel 
or  realize.  By  "faith"  we  come  to 
"understanding,"  and  by  these  two  we 
attain  to  a  clear  and  lively  "  hope."  The 
term  "  full  assurance"  refers  to  their 
degree,  which  from  the  lowest  to  the 
highest  is  the  alone  work  of  the  Divine 
Spirit. 


GOD'S  "FEAR  NOTS." 

To  Abraham,  the  father  of  the  faith- 
ful.    Gen.  XV.  i. 

To  Hagar,  in  the  wilderness  of  Beer- 
rsheba.     Gen.  xxi.  21. 

To  Isaac,  at  the  same  Beersheba. 
Gen.  xxvi.  24. 

To  Jacob,  again  at  Beersheba,  Gen. 
xlvi.  3,  4. 

To  the  trembling  children  of  Israel, 

with  the  Red  Sea  before  them,  and  the 

host  of  Pharaoh  pressing  on  behind. 
Exod.  xiv.  13. 

To  Moses  again,  on  the  eve  of  a  dead- 
ly conflict  with  Og,  the  king  of  BashaUo 
jNTum.  xxi.  34. 

Again,  to  the  awe-stricken  Gideon. 
■Judges  vi.  23. 

Over  the  evangelical  page  of  Isaiah, 
there  is  scattered  many  a  sweet  and 
precious  "  fear  not."  Isa.  xli.  10, 13, 14 ; 
xliii.  1,5:  xliv.  2,  8;  li.  7  ;  liv.  4. 

Jeremiah,  too,  has  "  fear  nots," — 
Jer.  XXX.  10 ;  xlvi.  27,  28  ;  and  Ezekiel, 
one  to  make  his  forehead  as  adamant 
Against  apostate  Israel.    Ezek.  iii.  g. 

To  Daniel,  the  "man  greatly  beloved." 
Daniel  x.  12 


For  the  persecuted,  even  unto  death. 
Matt.  X.  28. 

l^ur  the  mourner.     Luke  viii.  50. 

For  "  Little  faith,"  with  his  unbeliev- 
ing cry.     Matt.  x.  31. 

For  the  "  little   flock."     Luke  xii.  32. 

For  Paul,  in  his  tempest-tossed  bark. 
Acts  xxvii,  24, 

And  last,  but  not  least.   Rev,  i,  17, 18. 


'•  FEAR  NOT." 

1,  "Fear  not,  I  have  redeemed  thee," 
Is.  xliii.  I ;  li.  II. 

2.  "  Fear  not,  little  flock."  Luke  xii. 
32;  Heb.  xii.  28. 

.3.  "Fear  not:  for  God  is  come  to 
prove  you."     Ex.  xx.  20  ;  Ps.  xvii,  3, 

4,  "  Fear  not  ye,  for  I  know  that  ye 
seek  Jesus,  which  was  crucified.  MatL 
xxviii.  5  ;  Mai.  iv.  2;  Ps,  xxii,  26, 

5.  "Fear  ye  not;  standstill,  and  see 
the  salvation  of  the  Lord."  Ex.  xiv,  13; 
Jonah  ii,  9  ;  Is.  xii,  2, 

6,  "  My  Spirit  remaineth  among  you, 
fear  ye  not."  Haggai  ii.  5  ;  Zech.  viii. 
13;  Mai.  ii.  5. 

7.  "  Fear  ye  not  the  reproach  of  men." 
Is.  li.  7 ;  Matt.  X.  26  ;  Gen.  xliii.  23. 

"Fear  not,  I  am  the  first  and  the 
last."     Rev.  i.  17. 


A  PLACE  FOR  YOU. 

John  xiv,  2.  I.  Our  place  out  of 
Christ.  Afar  off. — Eph.  ii.  13.  Lost — 
Luke  xix.  10.  Enemies. — ^James  iv.  4, 
Condemned. — John  iii.  18.  Judged. — 
Rom.  v.  18.  Under  wrath. — ^John  iii.  36; 
Doomed  to  torment,— ^Ps aim  ix.  17.  2. 
Our  place  through  Christ.  Access. — 
Eph.  ii.  18.  Children. — i  John  iii.  i. 
Prepared  place. — John  xiv.  2.  A  city. — 
Heb,  ix.  16.  Place  of  rest,  inheritance. 
— I  Peter  i.  4.  3.  Our  place  in  Christ. 
Nearness. — Eph.  ii.  13.  Privilege. — 
John  xiv.  13.  Power. — John  xiv.  12. 
Honor. — John  xii.  26.  Seated  with  Him. 
— Eph.  ii.  6.  Reigning  with  Him. -Rev. 
xxii.  5.  4.  Our  place  for  Christ.  Sep- 
aration.— ^John  XV.  19.     Reproof. — John 

XV.     20.       Sufivihng. John     xv.      21 

Testimony. — John  xv.    27.      Service — 
John  XV.  8. 


228 


NOTES    FOR   BIBLE   READINGS. 


POWER. 

Power  Irom  on  high.  2  Kings  ii.  13-25. 

Power  over  the  sea.  Exodus  xiv. 
13-22. 

Power  over  the  springs.  Exodus  xv. 
23-27. 

Prophecy  of  power.     Isaiah  xl.  1-8. 

Promise  of  power.     Luke  xxiv.  44-53. 

Condition  of  power.     John  xv.  i-ii. 

Gift  of  power.     Acts  ii.  1-13. 


PAST.  PRESENT,  AND  FUTURE. 

We  are  often  reminded  from  Psalm 
xxiii,  that  the  shepherds  of  the  East  do 
not,  as  in  this  country,  drive  the  sheep, 
but  go  before  them. 

How  sweet  is  it  to  remember  this  at 
theeiid  of  this  precious  portion,  goodness 
and  mercy  follow  us.  So  that,  the  Lord 
before  us,  and  goodness  and  mercy  be 
hind  us,  and  the  house  of  the  Lord  to 
dwell  in  for  ever,  we  have  a  complete 
and  eternal  blessing. 

The  past. — The  Shepherd  died  for 
the  sake  of  His  flock.     John  xv.  13. 

The  present. — He  careth  for  you.  i 
Peter  v,  7. 

The  future. — He  is  preparing  a  place 
for  us.    John  xiv.  3, 


GOD'S  ORDER. 

In  self  without  Christ.     Eph.ii.11,12. 
In  Christ  brought  nigh.      Eph.  ii.  13. 
In  the  church   walk  in  good  works. 
Eph.  ii.  10. 

Man   often  reverses  the  order  of  the 

words,  and  would  say : — 

1.  In  the  church. 

2.  To  get  out  of  self. 

3.  If  at  last  we  may  get  to  heaven. 

H.R.F. 


ST.  PAUL  TELLS   OF   HIS   OWN 
CONVERSION. 

To  the  Jews.     Acts  xxii. 

To  Agrippa.     Acts  xxvi. 

To  the  Galatians.     Gal.  i.  13.16. 

To  the  Philippians.     Phil.  iii.  4-5. 


PRECIOUSNESS  OF  CHRIST. 

The  trial  of  his  faith  is  more  precious 
than  gold,     i  Peter  i.  7. 

His  redemption  with  the  precious  blood 
of  Christ.     I  Peter  i.  19. 


!      Christ   as   the   source  of  life,  a  living 
I  stone,  is  precious,     i  Peter  ii.  4. 

Christ  as  a  foundation,  a  chiel  comber- 
stone,  is  precious,     i  Peter  ii.  G. 

Because  of  our   faith  ;  to  you  which 
believe  He  is  precious,      i  Peter  ii.  7. 

Because  this  precious  faith  coaies  to 

us   through    the   righteousness   of    our 

God  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  2  Peteri.i. 

And  because  of  the  great  and  precious 

promises  in  and  through  Jesus  Christ, 
2  Peter  i.  4. 


THE    TABERNACLE    AND    ITS 
TEACHING. 

In  the  first  place  the   whole,  in  some 

way  or  other,  typified  the  Lord  Jesus  in 

His  person  or  in  His  work.     There  were 

fourteen  different  materials  used  in  the 

construction  of  the  Tabernacle  and  its 

furniture  and  vessels. 

Gold. — The  divine  glo;^'  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  the  Son  of  God. 

Silver. — This  was  derived  from  the 
atonement-money  of  Israel,  and  presents 
Christ  as  the  ransom  for  the  sinner. 

Brass, — The  divine  character  of  Christ, 
as  able  to  sustain  the  fire  of  God's 
holiness. 

Blue. — The  heavenly  color :  Christ  as 
the  manifestation  of  the  love  and  grace 
of  God. 

Purple. — The  kingly  glory  of  Christ  as 
the  Son  of  Man. 

Scarlet, — Christ  as  the  suffering  One 
unto  death — the  cross  the  pathway  to 
the  glory. 

Fine  Linen. — Christ  as  the  spotless, 
righteous  Son  of  Man. 

Goats'  Hair. — The  memorial  of  Christ 
as  the  Sin-offering. 

Rams'  Skins  dyed  Red. — Christ  as  the 
One  who  by  His  blood  made  an  atone- 
ment for  sin, 

Bado;ers'  Skins. — The  outward  aspect 
of  Christ  toward  the  world,  as  without 
form  or  comeliness. 

Shittlm  Wood. — The  incorruptible .  hu- 
manity of  Christ. 

Oil  for  the  Light. — The  Spirit's  fulness 
shining  forth  in  Christ. 

Spices  for  Anoijtting  and  for  Sweet 
Lnccnsc.  —  The  perfect  graces  and  per- 
fumes of  the  person  of  Christ. 

Prfcious  Stones. — The  effulgent  glories 
and  briehtness  of  Christ. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS 


229 


EVERLASTINC^. 

a.  Everlasting  salvation.  Isaiah  xlv.  17, 

2.  Everlasting  life.     John  iii.  16. 

3.  Everlasting  strength.   Isaiah  xxvi. 4. 

4.  Everlasting  love.     Jer.  xxxi.  3. 

5.  Everlasting  joy.     Isaiah    xxxv.  10. 
^.  Everlasting  light.     Isaiah  Ix.  20. 
7.  Everlasting  God.     Rom.  xvi.  26. 

MILE-STONES  ON  THE  WAY. 

Past, — I  was  chief  of  sinners.  i 
Tim.  i.  15. 

Present. — I  am  a  nevr  creature  in 
Christ  Jesus.     2  Cor.  v.  17. 

Future. — I  shall  be  like  Him.  i  John 
iii.  2. 

In  the  meantime. — I  press  toward  the 
mark      Phil  iii.  14.     T.  W.  Handford. 


THE  BIBLE  AND  SUNDAY 
SCHOOL  MACHINERY. 

1.  Importance    of    orderly     arrange- 
ment, I  Cor.  xiv.  40,  33. 

2.  Officers  and  Division  of  Labor,  i 
Cor.  xii.  28  ;  i  Kings  iv.  1-7. 

3.  Financial  Arrangements,  Neh.x.32 ; 
I  Cor.  xvi,  2. 

4.  Illustrative  Helps,  Matt.  xiii.  34. 

5.  Sacred  Music,   i   Chron.    xv.  22  ; 
Neh.  xii.  46 ;  2  Chron.  xxix.  25-31. 

6.  Sunday-school  exercises,  Col.  iii.  16. 

7.  Spirituality  pervading   all,    1   Cor. 
«iii.  I  ;  Ezek.  i.  20  ;  i  Cor.  xiv.  15. 


THE  BIBLE  AND  CHILDHOOD. 

1.  Man's- anxious  question  about  every 
child,  Luke  i.  61. 

2.  God's  interest  in  childhood,  Gen. 
xxi.  17;  Ps.  cxlvii.  13;  Prov.  viii.  17. 

3.  God's  care  of  His  little  ones,  Deut. 
-vii.  4;  Psalm  ciii.  13;  Isaiah  xl.  ii;  Mai. 
iii.  7;  Matt.  vii.  11. 

4.  God  saving  men  by  homefuls,  Gen. 
vii.  i;  xix.  16;  Josh.  xxiv.  15;  Acts  xvi. 
31-33- 

5.  Parents  as  God-appointed  teachers, 
Deut.  vi.  4-7;  Psalm  Ixxviii.  5-7. 

6.  Children  to  be  early  saved,  Matt, 
xix.  41;  2  Chron.  xxxiv.  3;  i  Sam.  iii.  i, 
19. 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  TEACHERS' 
DECALOGUE. 

1.  Pray   for  inspiration,    wisdom   and 
j)atience,  2  Tim.  ii.  24;  James  i.  5. 

2.  Have  faith  in  your  convictions,  Mark 
xi.  22  ;  John  xiv.  i;  Heb.  xi.  32,  33. 

3.  Respect  your  pupils,  Luke  xi.   11; 
Matt.  X.  29,  31. 


4.  Understand  your  own  purpose, 
Prov.  xvii.  24  ;  Luke  vi.  39. 

5.  Obtain  the  attention  and  affection 
of  your  pupils,  Matt.  vii.  6,  9,  10 ;  i 
Thess.  ii.  7,  8. 

6.  Express  thought  precisely ;  illus 
trate  freely,  i  Cor.  xiv.  19  ;  Matt.  xiii.  34. 

7.  Teach  arrangement  and  classiiica- 
tion,  2  Tim.  ii.  15  ;  Eccl.  iii.  i,  11. 

8.  Christ's  test ;  fruit,  Matt.  vii.  16-20. 

9.  Review  frequently,  Isa.  xxviii.  10. 

10.  Expect  great  results,  Eccl.  xi.  i  ; 
Matt.  xiii.  8. 

"  Thou,  therefore,  which  teachest  an- 
other, teachest  thou  not  thyself?" 

PSALM  CIII. 

Forgiveth,  Luke  vii.  36-50. 

Healeth,  Luke  viii.  43-48. 

Redeemeth,  Luke  viii.  49-56. 

Crowneth,  Luke  xv.  11-24, 

Satisfieth,  Luke  xvii.  19,  20. 

Saved  in  the  Lord  with  an  everlasting 
salvation,  Isa.  xlv.  17. 

Loved  by  Him  with  an  everlasting 
love,  Jer.  xxxi.  3.      Miss  Macpherson. 


THE  FORGIVENESS  OF  SINS. 

Who  can  forgive  sins  but  God  only  ? 
Mark  ii.  7. 

If  we  were  to  ask,  Who  need  the  for- 
giveness of  sins  ?  the  ready  answer  would 
be.  Sinners.  But  who  are  sinners  ?  All 
men  are  sinners.  See  what  God  says, 
Rom.  iii.  10,  12,  23,  and  i  John  i.  8,  10. 
Mark  the  distinction,  we  deceive  ourselves 
if  we  say  we  have  no  sin  in  our  nature; 
we  make  God  a  liar  if  we  say  we  have 
not  sinned  in  our  life.  The  dreadful 
reality  of  sin  in  us,  and  of  sin  on  us, 
making  us  sinners  in  the  deepest  sense, 
gives  the  teaching  of  the  Word  touching 
forgiveness  a  large  and  living  interest  to 
us  all. 

In  the  following  Scriptures  we  have  : 

I.  The  fact  that  God  forgives  sin.  I. 
Stated,  Exodus  xxxiv.  6,  7;  2  Chron.  vii. 
14;  Psalm  Ixxxvi.  5;  cxxx.  4;  2.  Illus- 
trated in  David,  Psalm  xxxii.  5.-  Sick  of 
the  Palsy,  Matt.  ix.  2.  Woman  in  Simon'i 
house,  Luke  vii.  48. 


230 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


2.  The  meritorious  groimd  on  7vhich 
God  forgives.  Christ  Jesus,  Col.  i.  14; 
I  John  ii.  12  ;  Acts  x  43  ;  Rom.  iii.  24, 
25.  The  question  may  be  asked  what 
has  Christ  done  that  God  forgives  for 
his  sake  ?  see  Heb.  ix.  22-26  ;  i  Pet.  iii. 
t8  ;  Isaiah  liii.  5,  6. 

3.  The  conditions  in  us  necessary  to 
forgiveness.  Faith,  Acts  xiii.  38.  Re- 
pentance, Acts  iii.  ig.  Confession,  i 
John  i.  9.     Forsaking  sin,  Prov.  xxviii.13. 

4.  The  perfection  of  this  forgivejtess  of 
G^d.  I.  Sins  are  blotted  out,  Isa.  xliii. 
35.  2.  Totally  removed  from  sight, 
Isa.  i.  18,  3.  Forgotten  for  ever,  Jer. 
xxxi.  34  ;  Heb.  x.  17. 

5.  The  consequences  of  forgiveness.  We 
have — I.  Life,  Col.  ii.ti3.  2.  Blessedness 
in  the  soul,  Ps.  xxxii.  i,  2  ;  i  John  v.  10. 
3.  Praise  in  the  heart,  Isa.  xii.  i.  4. 
The  fear  of  God,  Ps.  cxxx,  4  ;  Jer.  xxxiii. 
8,  9.  5.  Reconciliation  with  God,  Luke 
XV.  12,  32.  6.  Peace  with  God  and  joy 
in  the  hope  of  the  glory  of  God,  Rom. 
V,  1,2.  J.  A.  R.  Dickson. 


CONTRASTS  BETWEEN  CHRIST 
AND  HIS  PEOPLE. 

My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  Thou 
forsaken  me,  Ps.  xxii.  i ;  Mark  xiv.  20. 

I  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake 
thee,  Heb.  xiii.  5.. 

Why  are  Thou  so  far  from  helping 
me?  Ps. xxii.  i. 

The  Lord  is  my  helper,  Heb.  xiii.  6. 

Thou  hearest  not,  Ps.  xxii.  2. 

While  they  are  yet  speaking  I  will 
hear,  Isa.  Ixv.  24. 

I  am  a  worm  and  no  man,  Ps.  xxii.  6. 

He  hath  made  us  kings  and  priests 
unto  God  and  His  Father,  Rev.  i,  6. 

Many  bulls  have  compassed  me,  &c., 
for  dogs  have  compassed  me.  Psalm 
xxii.  12,  16. 

The  angel  of  the  Lord  encampeth 
round  about  them  that  fear  Him.  Psa. 
xxxiv.  7. 

I  sink  in  deep  mire,  Psa.  Ixix.  2. 

He   brought   me   up    also   out  of   an 


horrible  pit,  out  of  the  miry  clay,  Psa- 
xl.  2. 

The  floods  overflow  me,  Ps.  Ixix.  2. 

When  thou  passest      through  the 

rivers  they  shall  not  overflow  thee,  Isa. 
xliii.  2. 

I  am  weary  of  my  crying,  Ps.  Ixix,  3. 

God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from 
their  eyes.  Rev.  vii.  17  ;  Isa.  xxv.  8. 

Reproach  hath  broken  my  heart,  and 
I  am  full  of  heaviness,  Ps.  Ixix.  20. 

These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you^ 
that  your  joy  might  be  full,  John  xv.  11.. 

I  looked  for  comforters,  but  I  found. 
none,  Psa.  Ixix.  20. 

I  will  not  leave  you  comfortless,  John- 
xiv.  18, 

Now  is  my  soul  troubled,  John  xii.  27. 

Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled,  John 
xiv.  I. 

They  gave  me  gall  for  my  meat,  and 
in  my  thirst  they  gave  me  vinegar  to- 
drink.  Psa.  Ixix.  21. 

He  that  drinketh  of  this  water  that  1 
shall  give  him  shall  never  thirst.  My 
flesh  is  meat  indeed,  John  iv.  14  ;  John 
vi,  35-55- 

I  am  poor  and  sorrowful,  Ps.  Ixix.  29, 

Your  sorrow  shall  be  turned  into  joy, 
John  xvi.  20. 

I  am  a  worm  and  no  man,  Ps.  xxii.  6. 

.  .  .  hath  made  us  unto  our  God,. 
kings  and  priests,  Rev.  i.  6. 

I  am  forgotten  as  a  dead  man  out  of 
mind,  Ps.  xxxi.  12. 

Yet  will  I  not  forget  thee,  Isa.  Ixix.  15. 

Mine  iniquities  are  gone  over  mine 
head,  Psa.  xxxviii.  4. 

Their  sins  and  (their)  iniquities  will 
I  remember  no  more.     The  Lord  hath, 
laid  on  Him  the  iniquity  of  us  all,  Heb 
viii.  12  ;  Isa.  liii.  6. 

I  am  weary  with  my  groaning ;  all  the- 
night  make  I  my  bed  to  swim,   Ps.  vi.  6. 

Then  I  said  I  have  laboured  in  vain,. 
Isa.  xlix.  4. 

All  thy  waves  and  billows  are  gone 
over  me.     Psa.  xiii.  7. 

They  all  forsook  him  and  lied,  Matt., 
xxvi.  56 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


231 


I  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake 
thee,  Heb.  xiii.  5. 

My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou  for- 
saken me.  Matt,  xxviii.  46. 

Fear  thou  not,  for  I  am"  with  thee, 
Isa.  xli.  10. 

When  they  had  platted  a  crown  of 
thorns  they  put  it  upon  his  head.  Matt, 
xxvii.  29. 

I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of  life,  Rev. 
xi.  10. 

They  put  on  him  a  scarlet  robe,  Matt, 
xxvii.  28. 

He  that  overcometh  shall  be  clothed 
in  white  raiment,  Rev.  iii.  5. 

TIaey  had  no  leisure  so  much  as  to 
eat,  Mark  vi.  31. 

The  Lamb  who  is  in  the  midst  of  the 
throne  shall  feed  them.  Rev.  vii.  17. 

The  Son  of  man  hath  not  where  to 
lay  His  head,  Luke  ix.  58. 

In  my  Father's  house  are  many  man- 
sions. He  brought  me  into  His  ban- 
queting house,  John  xiv.  2  ;    Cant.  ii.  4-6. 

Jesus  being  wearied  with  His  journey 
John  iv.  6. 

Come  unto  Me  all  ye  that  are  weary 
(Greek)  .  .  .  and  I  vnll  give  you  rest, 
Matt.  xi.  28. 

Jesus  said  I  thirst,  John  xix.  28. 

They  shall  not  hunger  nor  thirst. 
Let  him  that  is  athirst  .  .  .  come  and 
take  the  water  of  life  freely,  Isa.  xlviii. 
21  ;  Rev.  xxii.  17. 

I  looked  and  there  was  none  to  help, 
Isa.  Ixiii.  5. 

In  all  their  afflictions  He  was  afflicted, 
I  will  help  thee,  Isa,  Ixiii.  9  ;  xli.  10. 

I  cry  in  the  day-time,  but  thou  hearest 
not,  Psa.  xxii.  2. 

This  poor  man  cried  and  the  Lord 
heard  him,  etc.   Psa.  xxxiv.  6. 

They  that  hate  me  without  a  cause 
are  more  than  the  hairs  of  mine  head, 
Ps.  Ixix.  4. 

I  have  loved  thee  with  an  everlasting 
love,  Jer.  xxxi.  3. 

Mine  eyes  fail  while  I  wait  for  my 
God,  Ps.  Ixix.  3. 

Blessed  are  all  they  that  wait  for  Him, 
Isa.  XXX.  18  ;  Ps.  xl.  i. 

They  that  would  destroy  me  are 
mighty,  Psa.  Ixix.  4. 

If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against 
US:  Rom.  viii.  31.  i 


For  thy  sake  I  have  borne  reproach, 
Psa.  Ixix.  7,  9,  20. 

Blessed  are  they  which  are  persecuted 
for  righteousness"  sake,  Matt.  v.  10 ;  2 
Cor.  xii.  10. 

Reproach  hath  broken  my  heart.  Psa 
Ixix.  20. 

He  healeth  the  broken  in  heart,  Psa 
cxlvii.  3. 

Shame  hath  covered  my  face.  Psalra 
Ixix.  7. 

Whosoever  believeth  on  Him  shall 
not  be  ashamed,  Rom.  x.  11. 

I  chastened  my  soul  with  fasting,  Ps 
Ixix.  10, 

Thou  preparest  a  table  before  me, 
Psa.  xxiii.  5. 

I  made  sackcloth  also  my  garment, 
Psa.  Ixix.  I. 

He  hath  clothed  me  with  the  garments 
of  salvation.  He  hath  covered  me  with 
the  robe  of  righteousness.  Isa.  Ixi,  10. 

I  am  in  trouble,  Psa.  Ixix.  17. 

Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled,  John 
xiv.  I. 

I  am  full  of  heaviness,  Ps,  Ixix.  20. 

Let  all  those  that  seek  Thee  rejoice 
and  be  glad  in  Thee,  Psa.  Ixx,  4. 

I  looked  for  some  to  take  pity,  but 
there  was  none,  Psa.  Ixix.  20. 

The  Lord  pitieth  them  that  fear  Him, 
Psa.  ciii.  13. 

For  comforters,  but  I  found  none, 
Psa.  Ixix.  20. 

I  am  He  that  comforteth  you.  Isaiah 
xli.  12 ;  John  xix.  18. 

A  man  of  sorrows,  Isa.  liii.  3. 

The  joy  of  the  Lord  is  your  strength, 
Neh.  viii.  10. 

Thy  fierce  wrath  goeth  over  me,  Psa, 

Ixxxviii.  16. 

There  is  therefore  now  no  condemna- 
tion to  them  who  are  in  Christ  Jesus, 
Rom.  viii.  i. 

This  man  hath  done  nothing  amiss, 
Luke  xxiii.  41. 

All  we  like  sheep  have  gone  astray, 
Isa.  liii.  16  ;  Luke  xviii.  10. 

Thy  terrors  have  cut  me  off,  Psalm 

Ixxxviii.  16. 

Thou  shalt  not  be  afraid  for  the  terror 
by  night,  Psa.  xci.  5  ;  Isa.  xii.  2. 
Crown  of  thorns,  John  xix.  12. 
Crown  of  glory,  i  Peter  v.  4,' 

Lover  and  friend  hast  thou  put  far 
from  me,  Psa.  Ixxxviii.  18. 


2^2 


NOTES  FOR  BIBLE  READINGS. 


There  is  a  friend  that  sticketh  closer 
than  a  brother,  Prov.  xvii.  24  ;  Jno.  xv.  14. 

He  wondered  that  there  was  no  inter- 
cessor, Isa.  lix.  16. 

He  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession. 
Heb.  vi.  25. 

He  hath  made  Him  to  be  sin  for  us 
who  knew  no  sin,  2  Cor.  v.  20. 

Their  sins  and  iniquities  will  I  re- 
member no  more,  Heb.  x.  17  ;  Mieah 
vii.   19. 

The  Son  of  Man  came  to  give  His  life 
a  ransom  for  many.  Matt.  xx.  28. 

None  of  them  can  redeem  his  brother, 
Psa.  Ixix.  7. 

I  have  redeemed  thee,  Isa.  xliv.  22-24. 

Nor  give  to  God  a  ransom  for  him. 
Psa.  xlix.  7. 

Neither  wilt  Thou  suffer  Thine  Holy 
One  to  see  corruption,  Psa,  xvi.  10. 

For  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth 
and  that  He  shall  stand  at  the  latter  day 
upon  the  earth,  etc.,  Job  xix.  25-27. 

Mrs.  Meny. 


CONTRASTS. 
Psalm  cvii. 

They  found  no  city  to  dwell  in.    ver.  4. 

He  led  them  to  a  city,     verse  7. 

Hungry  and  thirsty,     verse  5. 

Satisfied,  filled,     verse  9. 

In  darkness  and  the  shadow  of  death, 
verse  10. 

He  brought  them  out  of  darkness  and 
the  shadow  of  death,     verse  14. 

Bound  in  affliction  and  iron.     ver.  10. 

He  brake  the  bars  of  iron  in  sunder, 
verse  16. 

Afflicted,     ver.  17. 

Healed,     ver.  20. 

Near  death,     ver.  18. 

Singing.     (Margin.)    ver.  22. 

Stormy  wind.     ver.  25. 

Calm.     ver.  29. 

Up  and  down.     ver.  26. 

Quiet,     ver.  30. 

Great  waters,     ver.  22. 

Their  desired  haven,     ver.  30'. 

Mrs.  M. 


GOD'S  ARM. 

Thou  hast  with  Thine  arm  redeemed 
Thy  people.     Psalm  Ixxvii.  15. 

A  mighty  arm.     Psalm  Ixxxix.  13. 

A  strengthening  arm.  Psalm  Ixxxix. 
21  ;  Luke  i.  51. 

A  holy  arm.  Psalm  xcviii.  i  ;  Isaiah 
lii.  10. 


A  glorious  arm.     Isaiah  Ixiii.  13, 

A  high  arm.     Actsxiii.  17. 

A  stretched-out  arm.     Deut.  v.  15. 

An  everlasting  arm.     Deut.  xxxiii.  27. 

Be    Thou    their  arm    every  morning. 
Isaiah  xxxii.  2. 

His  arm  shall  rule.     Isaiah  xl.  10. 

He  shall  gather  the  lambs  with  His 
arms.     Isaiah  xl.  11. 

He  took  them  up  in  His  arms.     Mark 
X.  16. 

His  arms  like  polished  brass.     Daniel 
X.  6. 

On  Mine  arm  shall  they  trust.     Isaiah 
li.  5. 

Hast  thou  an  arm  like  God  ?  Job  xl.  9 

Miss  McP. 


HIDING  PLACES. 

Adam  J^id  under  the  trees.    Gen.  iii.  8- 

Rejectors  of  Christ  will  cry  to  the 
rocks  to  Aide  them.     Rev.  vi.  16, 

I  flee  unto  Thee  to  /tide  me.  Psalm 
cxliii.  9. 

He  shall  Mde  me.     Psalm  xxvii.  5. 

Hide  them  in  the  secret  of  Thy  pre- 
sence.    Psalm  xxxi.  20, 

Thy  hidden  ones.     Psalm  Ixxxiii.  3. 

Your  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God. 
Col.  iii.  3. 

Ye  shall  be  hid.     Zeph.  ii.  3. 

Thou  shalt  hide  them.    Psalm  xxxi.  20. 

Thou  art  my  hiding  place.  Psalm 
xxxii.  7. 


SHARERS  WITH  CHRIST. 

In  life.     I  John  iv.  9  ;  i  John  v.'  10. 
Col.  iii.  4.- 

In  wealth.     Rom.  viii.  17  ;  1  Cor.  1.  5. 

In  power.     Phil.  iv.  13  ;  2  Tim.  i.  7. 

In  love.    John  xv.  9  ;  John  xiv.  21 ; 
John  xvii.  23. 

In  joy.     John  XV.  ii. 

In  sufferings.     Phil.  iii.  10. 

In  glory,     i  Thess.  ii.  12  ;    i  Cor.  xv. 
43  ;  Phil.  iii.  21. 

Miss  McP. 


OF 


CONTRAST  AND  SIMILARITY 
CHRIST'S  TEACHING. 

Lengthened  interview  between  one  of 
the  most  respectable  and  one  of  the  least 
respectable.     John  iii.  and  iv. 

Specially  useful  to  us  in  noticing 
Christ's  different  dealing,  and  yet  it  is  the 
same  truth  that  saves.     Jno.  iii.  iv. 

A  man  of  the  Pharisees  named  Nico- 
demus,  a  ruler  of  the  Jews,  came  to  Jesus 
by  night  and  said  unto  Him,  Rabbi  we 
know  that  thou  art  a  teacher.     John  iii. 


NOTES  FOR  BIBLE  READINGS. 


233 


A  woman  of  Samaria— no  name  given 

— she  a  sinner,  I  must  needs  go  through 

Samaria.    Sixth  hour — noon.  The  woman 

-saith  unto  him,  Sir,  I  perceive  that  thou 
art  a  prophet.     John  iv. 

Christ  does  not  waste  time  but  comes 
at  once  to  the  root  of  the  matter, 

♦'Ye  must  be  bom  again."  "He  would 
have  given  thee  living  water." 

Both  make  the  same  mistake,  think- 
ing it  literal  birth  and  water. 

How  can  a  man  ?  From  whence  then 
hast  thou  that  living  water  ? 

Christ  reiterates  the  truth  three  times  : 

Bom  again,  verses  3,  5,  7.  Water, 
thrice  in  verse  14. 

Contrasts  between  earthly  and  heaven- 
ly, and  culminating  in  everlasting  life. 

Bom  of  the  flesh  is  flesh. 

Drinketh  of  this  water  shall  thirst 
agam. 

Born  of  the  Spirit  is  spirit. 

Water  that  I  shall  give  him  shall  never 
thirst. 

But  have  everlasting  life. 

Springing  up  into  everlasting  life. 

And  this  not  purchased  or  earned,  but 
given. 

God  so  loved  the  world   that  He  gave. 

If  thou  knewest  the  gift  of  God. 

One  of  the  first  consequences  of  talk- 
^g  with  Jesus.    Ignorance  shewn. 

Art  thou  a  master  of  Israel  and  know- 
est  not  these  things  ? 

Ye  worship  ye  know  not  what. 

Sin  revealed. 

This  is  the  condenmation,  men  loved 
darkness  rather  than  light. 

Go  call  thy  husband  and  come  hither. 

Tells  both  of  the  near  approach — 

The  Son  of  man  must  be  lifted  up. 

The  hour  cometh  and  now  is. 

Faith  the  ground  work. 

Believe  and  believeth  seven  times  to 
Nicodemus. 

But  once.      Woman  believe  me. 

Assurance. 

To  Nicodemus,  general.  We  speak  that 
we  do  know  and  testify. 

To  the  woman,  definite  and  personal, 
I  that  speak  unto  thee  am  He. 

Same  spiritual  worship. 

Every  one  that  is  born  of  the  Spirit 
must  worship  Him  in  spirit. 

Reject.     Ye  receive  not  our  witness. 

Accept.     Is  not  this  the  Christ  ? 

Bearing  testimony. 

Nicodemus  timidly,  some  time  after, 
-among  his  associates. 

Doth  our  law  judge  any  man. 

The  woman  at  once  boldly  among  hers. 


Come,  see  a  man. 

Result.     Unbelief,  ridicule. 

Art  thou  also  of  Galilee.     Seaich. 

After  service.  Then  came  also  Nicode- 
mus and  brought  a  mixture. 

A  great  company  of  priests  were  obedi- 
ent to  the  faith.     Acts  vi.  7. 

Immediate  compliance. 

They  went  out  of  the  city  and  came  to 
Him. 

She  has  the  honor  of  being  Christ's 
first  missionary. 

Results — Many  of  the  Samaritans  be- 
lieved on  Him,  for  the  saying  of  the 
woman. 

Many  more  believed  because  of  His 
own  word.     See  also  Acts  viii.  5,  6. 

Miss  E.  Bilbrough. 


SCRIPTURE  CONTRASTS. 
In  me  (that  is,  in  my  flesh) ^  dwelleth 
no  good  thing.  Rom.  vii.  18.  Ye  are 
complete  in  Christ.  For  in  Him  dwell- 
eth all  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead 
bodily.     Col.  ii.  9,  10. 

There  is  therefore  now  no  condemna- 
tion to  them  which  are  in  Christ  Jesus. 
Rom.  viii.  i.  We  must  all  appear  be- 
fore the  judgment  seat  of  Christ.  (That 
is,  the  believer  cannot  come  into  judg- 
ment or  condemnation  ;  but  his  works, 
as  a  believer,  must  be  manifested  before 
the  judgment  seat  of  Christ,  as  the 
context  implies.)     2  Cor.  v.  10. 

Without  Me  ye  can  do  nothing.  John 
XV.  5.  I  can  do  all  thinqs  through  Christ, 
which  strengtheneth  me.     Phil.  iv.  13. 

Who  hath  saved  us,  and  called  us 
with  an  holy  calling,  not  according  to 
our  works,  but  -according  to  His  own 
purpose  and  grace.  2  Tim.  i.  g.  Work 
cnit  your  own  salvation  with  fear  and 
trembling,  for  it  is  God  which  worketh 
in  you  both  to  will  and  to  do  of  His 
good  pleasure.     Phil.  ii.  12,  13. 

They  are  not  of  the  zuorld,  even  as  I 
am  not  of  the  world.     John    xvii.    16. 

Use  the  world,  as  not  abusing  it.     i  Cor. 
vii.  31. 

Wherefore,  let  him  that  thinketh   he 

standeth   take  heed  lest  he  fall,     i  Cor. 

x.    12.     I   give   unto  them    (My  sheep) 

eternal  life,  and  they  shall  never  perish. 

John  X.  28. 


234 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


Draw  not  nigh  hither ;  put  off  thy 
shoes  from  off  thy  feet,  for  the  place 
whereon  thou  standest  is  holy  ground. 
Exod.  iii.  5,  Having  therefore,  brethren, 
boldness  to  enter  into  the  holiest  by  the 
blood  of  Jesus.  Lei  us  draw  near  with 
a  true  heart  in  full  assurance  of  faith. 
Heb.  X.  19,  22. 

For  it  is  not  possible  that  the  blood 
of  bulls  and  of  goats  should  take  away 
sins.  Heb.  x.  4.  The  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ  His  Son  cieanseth  us  from  all 
sin.     I  John  i,  7. 

Sin  dzuellcth  in  me.  Rom^  vii.  17.  He 
that  dwelleth  in  love  dwelleth  in  God, 
and  God  in  kbn.     i  John  iv.  16. 

He  weakened  My  strength  in  the  way. 
Ps.  cii.  23.  The  mighty  God.  Isaiah 
ix.  6.  Upholding  all  things  by  the 
Word  of  His/(?w^r.     Heb.  i.  3. 

A  Man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted 
with  grief.  Isaiah  liii.  3.  These  things 
have  I  spoken  unto  you,  that  My  joy 
might  remain  in  you.    John  xv.  11. 

In  His  days  shall  the  righteous y?(?«mA. 
Ps.  Ixxii.  7.  In  the  world  ye  shall  have 
tribulation^     John  xvi.  33. 

Whom  having  not  seen,  ye  love;  3 
Peter  i.  8.     We  see  Jesus.     Heb.  ii,  9. 

Eyery  man  shall  bear  his  own  burden. 
Gal.  vi.  5.  Cast  thy  burden  ut>on  the 
Lord  and  He  shall  sustain  thee.  Ps. 
Iv.  22. 

My  Son  give  Me  thine  heart.  Prov. 
xxii.  26.  Keep  thin^  heart  with  all 
diligence.     Prov.  iv.  23. 

Father,  if  it  De  possible,  let  this  cup 
pass  Jrom  Me.  Matt.  xxvi.  39,  The 
cup  which  My  Father  hath  given  Me, 
^hall  I  not  drink  it  ?  John  xviii,  .\i, 

W.  C. 


AlOUNTAIN  GLOOM  AND  MOUN- 
TAIN GLORY. 

The  mountains  of  Scripture  will  re- 
pay the  climber.     Morley    Punshok. 

1.  Aaarat. — Sin,    and     sorrow,    and 
saving  grace.     Gen.  vii.  i  ;  viii.  i,  15-22. 

2.  Moriah. The    typical    sacrifice. 

Gen.  xxii.  14. 

3.  Horeb. — The  call  of  Moses.  Ex-^-'ms 
ii.  10,  12. 

4.  Sinai. — God  and  man  face  to  face.. 
Exodus  xxxiv.  28-35. 

5.  Pisgah. — Visions  of  home.     Deut. 
iii.  27. 

6.  Nebo, — Rest  for  the  weaiT.    Deut, 
xxxiv.  I,  8. 

7.  Carmel. — The  battle  of  the  Gods. 
I  Kings  xviii.  21. 

8.  Mount  of  Transfiguration. — Divine- 
fellowships.     Mark  ix.  2,  8. 

j      9.  Calvary. — Glory  breaking  through- 
!  the  gloom.     Matt,  xxvii.  45. 

I      10.  Olivet. — Memories  and   anticipa- 
tions.    Acts  i,  12.       T.  W.  Handford.. 


A  FEW  TEXTS  FOR  THE  SORROW- 
'  FUL  WIDOW. 

Exodus  xxii.  22  ;  -Deut.  x.  18  ;  Psalm 
;xlvi.  9  ;  Psalm  Ixviii.  5  ;  .Hosea  xiv,  3; 
Isaiah  liv.  5  ;  Isaiah  Ixvi.  13  ;  i  Tim.  v. 
\ ;  2  Cor.  i.  3  ;  vii.  6 ;  John  xvi.  33, 


SABBATH  OBSERVANCE. 

The    Sabbath    must  be  remembered.. 

Ex.  XX.  8. 

The  Sabbath  must  be  hallowed.  Ex- 
XX.  8. 

The  Sabbath  must  be  secure  from  or- 
dinary secular  occupation — day  of  rest» 
Ex.  XX.  9. 

The  Sabbath  must  be  employed  in  di- 
vine worship,  private  and  public.  Isa. 
Ixvi.  23  ;  Acts  XX.  7. 

The  Sabbath  must  be  hailed  as  honor- 
able of  the  Lord,  and  held  in  delight  as- 
a  day  of  gladness.  Isa.  Iviii.  13  ;  Psa. 
cxviii.  24  ;  Acts  xx.  7  :  i  Cor  x.  16. 

The  Sabbath  must  not  be  dishonoredi 
by  frivolous  recreation  or  pleasure.  Isa.. 
Iviii,  13. 

The  Sabbath  must  not  be  disturbed  by- 
unseemly  noise  and  tumult.  Hab.  ii.  20 ;, 
Matt.  xxiv.  20  ;  Heb.  iv.  9. 

The  Sabbath  must  not  be  outraged  by- 
gala  spectacles,  etc.  Isa.  Iviii.  13  ;  P».. 
Ixv.  I,  2,  4,  7. 


THE  SABBATH. 
It  must  not  be   profaned  by  traffic  for 
gain.     Neh.  xiii.    15-22  ;  Isa.    Iviii.  13  %. 

/ohn  ii.  13,   17. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


'35 


It  must  not  be  polluted  by  any  vice  or 
dissipation.     Isa.  Ivi.  2. 

It  may  be  used  in  acts  of  social  inter- 
course, imperative  travel,  visiting  the 
prisoner,  sick  or  poor  in  religious  instruc- 
tion or  charity.  Matt.  xii.  13  ;  Luke 
xiii.  10,  17  ;  xxiv.13,  31. 

It  may  be  employed  in  any  work  of 
necessity  or  mercy.     Mark  ii.  23,  28. 

VERY  SHORT  AND  VERY  LONG. 
There  are  some  things  very  short,  and 
some  things  very  long.  God  in  His 
Word  tells  us  of  both  of  these,  and  bids 
us  look  at  them. 

1.  Life  is  very  short.  God  speaks  of 
it  as  a  shadow^  i  Chron.  xxix.  15  ;  a 
weaver's  shuttle,  Job  vii.  6  ;  a  flower, 
Psalm  ciii.  15  ;  a  leaf,  Isa.  Ixiv.  6  ;  a 
handbreadth,  Ps.  xxxix.  5  ;  a  vapour, 
J  as.  iv.  14  ;  a  sleep,  Ps.  ex.  5  ;  a  flood, 
Psa,  ex.  5.  Is  not  life  then  short  ?  If  it 
be  like  these,  it  must  be  short  indeed. 

2.  Time  is  very  short.  It  is  made  up 
ot  many  lives  yet  it  is  short.  The  time 
is  short,  says  Paul,  i  Cor.  viii.  29  ;  the 
world  passeth  away,  says  John,  i  John 
ii.  17.     A  few  years  will  end  all. 

3.  The  sinner* s  joy  is  short.     It  is  but 

(or  a   moment,   says  Job,    xx.   5,     The 

fashion   of  this   world    passeth  away,   i 

Cor.  vii.  31.     It  fades  away,   and  leaves 
nothing  behind  it  but  grief, 

4.  Jhe  saiftt's  sorrow  is  short.  It  is 
but  for  a  moment,  2  Cor.  iv.  17.  It  may 
be  heavy  and  hard  to  bear,  but  it  is  soon 
over,  and  it  leaves  no  shadow  behind. 

These  are  some  of  the  things  that  are 
very  short.  But  there  are  other  things 
that  are  long.    They  are  forever  and  ever. 

1.  God  Himself.  He  is  from  everlast- 
ing to  everlasting,  Psalm  xc.  2.  His  life 
is  throughout  all  eternity,  for  He  is  the 
King  eternal  and  immortal,  i  Tim.  i.  17. 
How  well  for  us  to  have  this  God  for  our 
God. 

2.  God^s  Love.  The  mercy  of  the 
Lord,  says  David,  is  from  everlasting  to 
everlasting,  Psalm  ciii.  17.  The  love  of 
God  changes  not.  His  grace  never  grows 
old. 


3.  The  life  to  come.  It  is  everlasting, 
life,  John  iii.  16  ;  there  is  no  'death  ia 
this  life,  and  no  end.  He  who  gets  it» 
gets  it  for  ever  and  ever.  What  must  it 
be  to  have  eternal  life  ! 

4.  The  saint'' z  joy.  At  God's  right 
hand  are  pleasures  foreviermore,  Ps.  xvi. 
II  ;  the  joy  which  the  i\.n-omeQ  of  the 
Lord  obtain  is  everiasting  joy,  Isa. 
XXXV.  10.  How  blessed  lo  have  joy  like 
this — ^joy  that  shall  never  end. 

5.  The  sinner's  sorrow.  I':  is  endless^ 
endless.  The  fire  is  everlasting,  Isa. 
xxxiii.  14.  The  torment  is  da ;  and  night, 
forever  and  ever,  Rev.  xx.  10.  The- 
darkness  is  the  blackne.'^t  of  darkness 
forever,  Jude  13.  How  sad  to  lie  down 
in  such  sorrow — to  have  these  everlast- 
ing burnings  for  our  home  I 


PRIESTHOOD  OF  CHRIST.     • 

This  is  presented  in  type  in  the  Old 

Testament.     It  is  unfolded  in  the  New. 

The  first  notice  of  Priesthood  is  that 

of  BLESSING.     Gen.  xii.  18-20  ;  Hebrews 
vii.  1-3  ;  Luke  xxiv.  .50-51. 

The  second  typical  setting  forth  ot 
Priesthood  is  that  ot  presentation. 
Exodus  xxviii.  i,  4,  29  ;  Heb.  ix.  24. 

The  third  representation  oi  the  Priest- 
hood of  Christ  may  be  called  atone- 
ment. Levit.  xvi.  7-10,  14-16,  20-22  and 
27;  John  i.  29;  Hebrews  ix.  26,  and. 
xiii.  II,  12. 

This  is  the  order  in  which  priesthood 

is    according    to  the    mind   of  God,  but. 
the   opposite   order  is    that  in    which    it 
is    apprehended    by  the    mind   of    man. 
Blessing     is     the    thing    set    before    ihe- 
mind   of    God,  but    we    know    that    sin 
must  Jirst  be  put  away,  and  the  persons- 
to    be   blessed  must    then    be    presented  ■ 
faultless,  before   blessing   comes.     Hence, 
we   must   first   be   reconciled    to  God  by 
the     cross-atonement,    before     we    share.- 
the     blessings    of     the     intercession    of 
Christ.     His     intercession     only    for    be- 
lievers.     Hence  Abraham  receives  bless- 
ing  through   priesthood  and  is  strength- 
ened  for  tlie    conflict  before  him.     Gen~ 


^36 


iSOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READING^. 


ixii.  21-24.     Hence  priesthood  amongst 
Israel  (one  types  i  Cor.  x.  11)  was  given 
:^fter  they  were    redeemed  by    hlood. 
Exodus  xii.  and  Levit.  viii.     Hence  in 
^building  Tabernacle  the  priesthood  be- 
>gins  after  the  brazen  altar  which  is  the 
type  of  the  cross.     Exodus  xxvii.  1-8  ;  i 
xxviii.    I.     Hence  the   intercession   for  \ 
the  fig  tree,  which  is  a  standing  type   of  ' 
the  Israelites  and  not  of  the  Gentiles, 
of  the  believer  and  not  the  unbeliever - 
Lukexiii.  6-9;  Matt,  vii.' 16-20. 

Christ  is  now  exercising  the  priest- 
hood of  intercession  and  of    blessing, 

based  upon    his  atonement,  for  those  j 
-who  trust  him. 

It  is  all  powerful.     Heb.  vii.  25. 

It  avails  fo>'  sins.   John  i.  7-9  andii.  i. 

It  gives  aid  in  temptation.  Hebrews  ii. 
36-18  ;  Luke  xxii.  31,  32:  Mark  xvi.  7. 

It  is  full  of  sympathy.     Heb.  iv.  14-16. 

It  gives  strength  and  joy.  As  Abraham 
^as  openly  fed  with  bread  and  wine. 
Sowe  take  these  elements  of  the  strength 
and  joy  ministered  to  us  by  the  Holy 
Ghost  through  the  word.  John  vi.  33, 
^3-58.  Rev.  R.  Cameron. 

PRIESTHOOD  OF  BELIEVERS. 

All  through  the  letters  to  the  Churches 
Christians  are  spoken  of  as  priests,  but 
no  one  person  or  class  of  persons  more 
so  than  another.  The  ofiicers  and 
teachers  of  the  church  are  never  called 
priests.     See  i  Peter  ii,  5,  9  ;  Rev.  i.  6  ; 

V.  10  ;;  XX,  6. 

It  is  evident  that  the  believer  can 
never  participate  with  Christ  in  making 
atonement  for  sin,  that  was  once  made 
and  never  to  be  repeated.  Hebrews  ix. 
26  ;  X.  10-14,  17-18. 

In  what  respects  are  we  priests. 

Referring  back  to  the  typical  teaching 
it  will  be  found  that  Aaron  s  sons  were 
priests  by  virtue  oi  their  relationship  to 
him,  so  we  by  our  relationship  to  Christ 
— we  possess  his  liie,  (John  i.  4,  12-14) 
as  they  possess  the  life  of  Aaron. 

The  breastplate  w'th  special  garments 
and  the  Urim  and  Thummim  were  alone 
•given  to  Aaron.  Lev^t.  ix.  7-14.  He 
^vas  also  anointed  abundantly  before 
the  sin  ofiering  was  made,  ver.  12  ;  the 
.-J  >ns  after,  and  in  a  limited  way,  ver.  30. 


Both  were  consecrated  by  blood,  ver. 
23-24  They  were  not  to  enter  upon 
their  priestly  work  till  the  eighth  or 
resurrection  day — 33-35  ;  ix.  i.  So  Christ 
after  His  resurrection,  and  we  also  after 
risen  from  the  dead.  Eph.  li.  5,  6  ;  Col. 
iii.  I. 

I.  In  offering  praise.  Hebrews  xiiL 
15 ;.  Hos.  XIV,  2. 

2  In  doing  good  and  giving.  Heb. 
xiii.  16  ;  Phil,  ivo  16,  Hence  giving  is 
an  act  of  worship,     i  Cor.  xvi,  1-2. 

3.  In  discerning  between  the  clean 
and  the  unclean  x.  lo-ii ;  Ezek.  xxii. 
26.  See  New  Testament  Exhortations 
to  believers.     Heb.  \  •  14  ;  Rom.  xii.  9. . 

4.  In  pronouncing  clean.  Levit.  xiii. 
6, 13.  So  John  XX,  23.  They  pronounce 
clean,  forgiven,  all  the  sinners  who  tie- 
lieve,  and  unclean,  (their  sins  retained) 
all  who  do  not  believe.  Acts  x  43; 
xiii.  38-39. 

5.  In  blessing.  Levit.  ix.  22-23  ;  Num. 
vi.  22-26.  So  we.  Matt.  v.  44  ;  Rom. 
xii.  14 ;  I  Cor.  iv.  12.  This  we  do  in 
preaching  gospel.  Rom.  xv.  29  ;  Rom. 
i.  1 1 .  We  should  always  seek  to  be  a 
blessing  to  all  whom  we  meet. 

6.  Intercession,  It  is  our  privilege. 
Examples  in  days  of  Christ.  John  iv. 
46-53  ;  Matt.  xvi.  21-28;  Mark  ii,  4-12. 
Amongst  apostles.  Acts  xii.  3-7 ;  Ro*m, 
1,9-;  I  Thess.  iii.  10  ;  James  v.  14-16. 
So  we  may  pray  for  saved  and  unsaved 
friends.  Rev.  R.  Cameron. 


FALLING  LEAVES. 

Where  there  is  little  faith  th^re  is 
little  joy,     Luke  xxiv,  25, 

The  grand  test  of  discipleship  is  not 
knowledge,  bin  love,     i  John  iv,  7, 

The  believer  must  not  only  say 
"  Lord  teach  me,"  but  "  Lord  lead  me," 

Ps,  XXV,  /j,  5, 

^V^en  we  reign  over  sin,  what  liberty  ! 
— \v  ien  sin  reigns  over  us.  what  bond- 
age ?  Rom,  vi,  14, 

Never  trust  to  grace  received,  but  to 
the  mexhaustible  fount.-in  whence  you 
received  it,     2  Cor.  xii.  9, 

The  law  discovers  our  ruin,  but  can- 
not provide  the  remeay.  Jesus  alone 
can  do  that.     Rom.  viii.  3. 

Those  who  are  most  holy  are  most 
lovely  ;  for  the  beauty  of  the  Lord  is 
His  holiness.     Psalm  xcvi.  9. 

There  is  joy  with   peace  in  believing, 
but  nothing  but  perplexity  in  unbelief. 
\  Acts  viii.  37,  39. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


2X 


V 


xsalknfoiis. 


THE    FIVE    PRECIOUS    THINGS 
OF  PETER; 

Christ. — I  Peter  ii.  4,  7.  His  blood — 
I  Peter  i.  19.  The  promises, — 2  Peter 
i.  4.  Faith. — 2  Peter  i.  i.  The  trial  of 
faith. — I  Peter  i.  7. 


Walk 
Walk 
Walk 
Eph.  iv 
Walk 
Walk 
Walk 
Walk 


SEVEN    WALKS. 

in  obedience.     Eph.  ii.  2. 

in  good  works,     Eph.  ii.  10. 

worthy  of   the    vocation,    ect. 

.  I. 

not  as  other  Gentiles.  Eph.  iv.  7. 

in  love.     Eph.  v.  5. 

as  children  of  light.    Eph.  v.  8. 

circumspectly.     Eph.  v.  15. 


SEVEN    TOGETHERS. 

Quickened  us  together.     Eph.  ii,  5. 
Raised  us  up  together.     Eph.  li.  6. 
Sit  together.     Eph.   ii.  6. 
Workers  together  with  Him.     2  Cor. 
trj.  1  ;  I  Cor.  iii.  9. 
Glorified  together.     Rom.  iii.  17. 
Work  together  for  good.     Rom.iii.28. 
Planted  together.     Rom.  vi.  5. 


SEVEN  ONES. 
One  body,  one  spirit,  one  hope.   Eph. 
iv.  4,  5,  6. 

One    Lord,   one  faith,  one  baptism. 
Eph.  iv.  4,  5,  6. 

One  God  and  Father  of  all.     Eph.iv. 
4.  5.  6. 


SEVEN  STEPS  OF  THE  WICKED. 
Psalm  XXX vi.  1-5. 


SEVEN  STEPS. 
Phiiippians  ii.  6,  7,  8. 


SEVKN     THINGS     THE     LORD 

HATES. 
Proverbs    vi.     16-19. 


SEVEN  THINGS  IN  COLOSSIANS^ 

II. 

Received  Christ,     ver,  6. 
■    Walk  in   Christ,     ver.  6. 
Rooted  in  Christ,     ver.  7. 
Built  up  in  Christ,     ver.  7. 
Complete  in  Christ,     ver.  10. 
Buried  with  Christ,     ver.  12. 
Risen  with  Christ,    ver.  12. 


SEVEN  "MUSTS"  OF  THEGOSPEL. 

1.  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?  Acts 
xvi.  30. 

2.  Ye  must  be  born  again.    John  iii.  7., 

3.  As  Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in. 
the  wilderness,  even  so  must  the  Son  ol 
Man  be  lifted  up.     John  iii.  14. 

4.  Neither  is  their  salvation  in  any 
other,  for  there  is  none  other  name  under 
heaven,  given  among  men  whereby  we- 
musthe  saved.     Acts  iv.  I2. 

5.  Then  all  the  congregation  answered 
and  said  with  a  loud  voice,  as  Thou  hast, 
said  so  must  we  do.     Ezra  x.  12. 

5.  And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Zacchaeus, , 
make  haste  and  come  down,  for  to-day 
I  must  abide  at  thy  house.     Luke  xix.  5. 

7.  For  we  must  all  appear  before  the 
judgment  seat  of  Christ,  that  every  one 
may  receive  the  things  done  in  his  body 
— according  to  that  he  hath  done,, 
whether  it  be  good  or  bad.     2  Cor  v.  10. 

S.R.B. 


SEVEN  THINGS  ABOUT  PEACE. 

It  is  made.     Col.  i.  20. 

It  is  preached.     Acts  x.  36. 

It  is  given.     John  xiv.  27. 

It  is  possessed.     Rom.  v.  i. 

It  should  fill  the  heart.     Rora.  xv.  13.. 

it  should  keep  the  heart.    PaiJ.iv.G,/.. 

It  should  rule  the  hearr.     Col.  iii.  it;. 


335 


NOTES    1<0R   BIBLE    READINGS. 


SEVEN  THINGS  THAT  FAIL. 

Money  fails.     Genesis  xlvii.  15, 
Kinsfolk  fail.    Job  xix.  14. 
Strength  fails.     Psalm  xxxi.  10. 
Refuge  fails.     Fsalm  cxlii.  4. 
Eyes  fail.     Psalm  Ixix.  3. 
Desire  fails.     Ecc.  xii.  5. 
Flesh   and   heart  will   fail.       Psalm 
Ixxiii.   26. 


SEVEN    ALLUSIONS  TO    ONE 

THING. 

Death.     Ecc.  iii.  19. 
Salvation.     Mark  x.  21. 
Assurance.     John  ix.  25. 
•Communion.     Psalm  xxvii.  4. 
-Devotedness.     Luke  x.  42. 
Progress.     Phil.  iii.  13,  14. 
Coming  of  the  Lord.     2  Peter  iii.  8. 


'SEVEN  INDISPENSABLE  THINGS. 

1.  Without    shedding   of   blood  is  no 
remission.     Heb.  ix.  22. 

2.  Without  faith   it   is  impossible  to 
please  God.     Heb.  xi.  6. 

3.  Without  holiness  no  mail  shall  see 
the  Lord.     Heb.  xii.  14. 

4.  Without  xvorks  faith  is  dead.  James 
ii.  26. 

5.  Without  love  I  am  nothing,    i  Cor. 
xiii.  I,  3. 

6.  Without  chastisement    ye    are  not 
sons.     Heb.  xii.  8. 

7.  Without  Me   [Jesus]    ye   can    do 
nothing.    John  xv.  5. 


SEVEN  THINGS    GOD    DID    FOR 
NOAH. 
Warned  him.     Gen.  vi.  13. 
Brought  him  into  the  ark.  Gen.  vii.  i. 
Shut  him  in.     Gen.  vii.  16. 
Remembered  him.     Gen.  viii.  i. 
Brought  him  out.     Gen.  viii.  15. 
Accepted  his  sacrifice.     Gen.  viii.  21. 
Blessed  him.     Covenant. — Gen.  ix.  i. 


SEVEN  THINGS  TO  HOLD  FAST. 

1.  That  which  is  good,     i  Thess  v.  i. 

2.  The  faithful  word.     Titus  i.  9. 

3.  The  form  of  sound  words.    2  Tim. 

•i.  13-    .  " 

4.  The  confidence  and  rejoicing  of  the 
•laope.     Heb.  iii.  6. 

5.  The  profession  of  our  faith.    Heb. 
X.  23. 

6.  That  we  have,  that  no  man  take  our 
crown.     Rev.  iii.  11. 

7.  The  unfaithful,  hold  fast  and  repent. 
Rev.  iii.  3. 


SEVEN      THEREFORES      OF 
ROMANS. 

1.  Therefore  man  is  without  excuse. 
Rom.  ii.  I. 

2.  Therefore  not  justified  by  work  of 
law.     Rom.  iii.  20. 

3.  Therefore  it  is  of  faith.  Rom.iv.i6 

4.  Therefore  being  justified,  we  have 
peace.    .Rom.  v.  i. 

5.  Therefore  there  is  no  condemnation 
Rom.  viii.  i. 

6.  Therefore  behold  the  goodness  and 
severity  of  God.     Rom.  xi.  22. 

7.  Therefore  present  your  bodies  a 
"living  sacrifice.     Rom.  xii.  i. 


SEVEN  ASPECTS  OF  WORSHIP. 

The  basis,  the  cross.     Heb.  x.  19. 

The  object,  the  Father ;  the  source, 
the  Spirit ;  the  channel,  Christ.  Eph 
ii.  18. 

The  place,  the  vail.     Heb.  x.  20. 

The  subjects,  believers.     John  iv.  24. 

The  theme,  praise.     Heb.  xii.  15. 

The  Gospel,  good  news. — The  glorious 
Gospel  of  the  blessed  God. — i  Tim.i.ii. 
The  Gospel  of  Christ. — Rom.  i.  16.  The 
Gospel  of  His  Son. — Rom.  i.  9.  The 
Gospel  of  the  grace  of  God. — Acts xx. 24. 
My  Gospel.^Rom.  xvi.  25.  The  Gospel 
of  the  Kingdom. — Matt.  iv.  25.  The 
everlasting  Gospel. — Rev.  xiv.  6, 


.  SEVEN  ABLES. 

1.  Able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly 
above  all  that  we  ask  or  think. — Ephes. 
iii.  20. 

2.  Able  to  save  them  to  the  uttermost 
that  come  unto  God  by  him. — Heb. 
vii.  25. 

3.  Able  to  raise  him  up  even  from  the 
dead. — xi.  19. 

4.  Able  to  make  all  grace  abound  to- 
ward you. — 2  Cor.  ix.  8. 

5.  Able  to  succour  them  that  are 
tempted. — Heb.  ii.  18. 

6.  Able  to  keep  you  from  falling. — . 
Jude  24. 

7.  Able    even    to   subdue   all   things 

unto  himself. — Phil.  iii.  21, 


SEVEN  DELIVERS. 

1.  Deliver  me  from  all  my  transgres- 
sions.—  Psa.  xxxix.  8. 

2.  Deliver  me  from  the  hand  of  mine 
enemies. — Psa.  xxxi.  15. 

3.  Deliver  me    irom  bloodguiltiness 
O  God  —Psa.  .\li.  14. 


NOTES  FOR  BIBLE  READINGS. 


239 


4.  Deliver  me  from  deceitful  and  un- 
just man. — Psa.  xli.  I. 

5.  Deliver  me  from  evil  work. — 2  Tim. 
uv.  18. 

6.  Deliver  me  from  the  oppression  of 
man. — Psa.  cxix,  134. 

7.  Deliver  me  from  the  body  of  this 
death. — Rom.  vii.  24. 


THE    SEVEN    RESTS    OF     SCRIP- 
TURE. 

Rest.  Sabbath. 

Creation.    Gen.  ii.  2,  3.    S-eventh  day. 
Canaan.  Josh.  xxi.  44.    A-fter  subduing 

the  land. 
Sinners.    Matt.    ki.   28.    B-elieving. 
In  service.   Mat.  xi.  29.    B-eing      yoked 

with  Christ. 
Recompense.   2  '  Thess. 

i.  6,  7.  A-t  the  coming 

of  Christ. 
Millennial.     Isa.  xiv.  7.   T-housand 

years. 
-Eternal.   Rev.  xxi.  3,  4.    H-ereafter      for 

ever. 


A  SEVENFOLD  VIEW  OF  GOD. 
Rom.  i.  1-18. 

1.  Gospel  of  God.     Rom.  i.  i. 

2.  Son  of  God.     Rom.  i.  4. 

3.  Beloved  of  God.     Rom.  i.  7. 

4.  Peace  of  God.     Rom.  i.  7. 

5.  Power  of  God.     Rom.  i.  16. 

6.  Righteousness  of  God.    Rom.  i.  17. 

7.  Wrath  of  God.     Rom.  i.  18. 

Thus  we  have  a  message  of  love — 
"The  Gospel  of  God,"  telling  us  of  the 
-death  and  resurrection  of  "  The  Son  of 
•God,"  through  which  we  are  seen  to  be 
"The  Beloved  of  God,"  and  the  basis 
upon  which  that  love  rests,  "The  Peace 
of  God,"  setting  forth  the  only  way  to 
elevate  man,  "The  Power  of  God  ;  "  and 
in  which  also  "The  righteousness  of 
God"  is  seen;  but,  if  rejected,  nothing 
but  the  "  Wrath  of  God  "  remains. 

H.  R.  F. 


TWICE       SEVENFOLD      DESCRIP- 
TION OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT. 

1.  Spirit  of  Christ.     Rom.    viii.    9  ; 
J.  Peter  i.  11. 

2.  Spirit  of  Promise.     Eph.  i.  13. 
,3.    Spirit  of  Truth.     John  xiv.    17  ; 

xv.  26;  xvi.  13;  I  John  iv.  6. 

4.  Spirit  of  Adoption.  Rom.  viii.  15. 

5,  Spirit  of  Wisdom.     Ex.  xxviii.  3; 
VDeut.  xxxiv*  9  ;  Isaiah  xL  2  ;  Eph.  i.  10^ 


6.  Spirit  of  Counsel.     Isaiah  xi.  2. 

7.  Spirit  of  Knowledge.    Isaiah  xi.  2. 

8.  Spirit  of  Understanding.       Isaiah 
xi.  2. 

9.  Spirit  of  Prophecy.     Rev.  xix.  10; 
Joel  ii.  28. 

10.  Spirit  of  Power.     2  Tim.  i.  7. 

11.  Spirit  of  Love.     2  Tim.  i.  7, 

12.  Spirit  of  Sound  Mind.  2  Tim.  i.  7. 

13.  Spirit  of  Grace.       Zech.    xii.    10  ; 
Heb.  X.  29. 

14.  Spirit  of  Glory,     i  Peter  iv.  14, 
"Know  ye  not  that  your  body  is  the 

temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost  ?  "  i  Cor.  vi.  19. 

SEVEN  THINGS  OPENED. 
The  eyes.  Isaiah  xlii.  7.  The  ears. 
Isaiah  1.  5.  The  heart.  Acts  xvi.  14. 
The  mouth.  Psalm  Ii.  15.  The  Scrip- 
tures. Luke  xxiv.  32.  The  understand- 
ing. Luke  xxiv.  45.  The  door  for 
service,     i  Cor.  xvi.  9. 


SEVEN      APOSTOLIC      COMMAND- 
MENTS. 

1.  As    ye    have     therefore    received 
Christ  Jesus  the  Lord,  walk  ye  in  Him. . 
Rooted  and  built  up  in  Him.  Col.  ii.  6,  7. 

2.  Walk  in  the  Spirit  and  ye  shall  not 
fulfil  the  lusts  of  the  flesh.     Gal.  v.  16, 

3.  Walk  in  love,  as  Christ  also  hath 
loved  us,  and  hath  given  Himself  for 
us,  an  ofFeririg  and  a  sacrifice  to  God 
for  a  sweet  smelling  savour.     Eph.  v.  2. 

4.  And  this  is  love,  that  we  walk  after 
His  commandments.  2  John  6.  For 
this  is  the  love  of  God,  that  we  keep 
His  commandments,     i  John  v.  3. 

5.  See  then  that  ye  walk  circumspect- 
ly, not  as  fools,  but  as  wise,  redeeming 
the  time  because  the  days  are  evil. 
Ephes.  V.  15,  16. 

6.  Now  are  ye  light  in  the  Lord : 
walk  as  children  of  light ;  proving  Avhat 
is  acceptable  unto  the  Lord.  Ephes. 
V.  6,  10. 

7.  Walk  worthy  of  the  Lord  unto  all 
pleasing,  being  fruitful  in  every  good 
work,  and  increasing  in  the  knowledge 
of  God.     Col.  i.  10  ;   Eph.  iv.  1,2. 

He  that  saith  he  abideth  in  him,  ought 
himself  also  so  to  walk,  even  as  He 
walked,     i  John  i»   6. 


240 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


SEVENFOLD    VIRTUE    OF     THE 
BLOOD. 

r.  Redemption.     In  whom  we  have 

redemption   through    His    blood    even 
the  forgiveness  of  sins.     Col.  i.  14. 

2.  Justification.  Much  more  then, 
being  now  justified  by  His  blood,  we 
shall  be  saved  from  wrath  through 
Him.     Rom.  v.  9. 

3.  Sanctification,  Jesus  also,  that 
He  might  sanctify  the  people  with  His 
own  blood,  suffered  without  the  camp. 
Heb.  xiii.  12. 

4.  Peace.  Having  made  peace  through 
the  blood  of  His  cross.     Col.  i.  20. 

5.  Made  nigh.  But  now  in  Christ 
Jesus  ye  who  sometimes  were  far  off 
are  made  nigh  by  the  blood  of  Christ. 
Eph.  ii.  13. 

6.  Kept  nigh.  Having  therefore,  breth- 
ren, boldness  to  enter  into  the  holiest 
by  the  blood  of  Jesus.     Heb.  x.'ig. 

7.  Victorious.     And    they    overcame 
him  by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.     Rev. 
xii.  II.     And  have  washed  their  robes 
and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  of. 
the  Lamb.     Rev.  vii.  14. 

Unto  Him  that  loved  us,  and  washed 
us  from  our  sins  in  His  own  blood,  and 
hath  made  ns  kings  and  priests  unto 
God  and  His  Father  ;  to  Him  be  glory 
and  dominion  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen. 
Rev.  i.  5,  6. 


SEVEN  NOWS. 

1.  The  now  of  Calvary  :  now  once  in 
the  end  of  the  world  (age)  hath  Christ 
appeared  to  put  away  sin  by  the  sacri- 
fice of  Himself.     Heb.  ix.  26, 

2.  The  now  of  Resurrection :  now  is 
•Christ  risen  from  the  dead,  and  become 
the  first  fruits  ot  them  that  slept,  i 
Cor,  XV.  20. 

3.  The  now  of  Salvation  :  now  is  the 
accepted  time ;  behold,  now  is  the  day 
of  salvation.     2  Cor.  vi.  2. 

4.  The  now  of  No  Condemnation  : 
now  there  is  therefore  no  condemnation 
to  them  that  are  in  Christ  Jesus.  Rom. 
viii.  1. 


5.  The   now   of    NearncNs .    now  ii» 

Christ  Jesus  ye  who  sometimes  were  far 

oft  are  made    nigh    by  the    blood  of 
Christ.     Eph.  ii.  13. 

6.  The  now  of  Sonship  :  now  are  we- 
the  sons  of  God.     i  John  iii.  2. 

7.  The  now  of  Intercession  ;  now  to 

appear  in  the  presence  of  God  for  us. 
Heb.  ix.  24. 

Now  unto  Him  that  is  able  to   keep 

you  from  falling,  and   to  present  5'-ou 

faultless    before  the  presence  of    His 

glory  with  exceeding  joy.     To  the  only 

wise   God  our   Saviour    be  glory  and 

majesty,  dominion  and  power,  both  now 
and  ever.     Amen.    Jude  24,  25. 


SEVEN  PRECIOUS  THINGS. 

1.  None  can  by  any  means  redeem 
his  brother  nor  give  to  God  a  ransom, 
for  him  ;  for  the  redemption  of  their 
soul  is  precious.     Psalm  xlix.  7,  8. 

2.  Forasmuch  as  ye  know  that  ye 
were  not  redeemed  with  corruptible 
things,  as  silver  and  gold . .  but  with  the- 
precious  blood  of  Christ,  as  of  a  lamb- 
without  blemish  and  without  spot. 
I  Peter  i.  18,  19. 

3.  Precious  faith  with  us  through  the 
righteousness  of  God  and  of  our  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ.     2  Peter  i.  i. 

4.  Whereby  are  given  unto  us  exceed- 
ing great  and  precious  promises.  2 
Peter  i.  4. 

5 .  H  o w  precious  also  are  Thy  thoughts; 
unto  me,  O  God  !  how  great  is  the  sum 
of  them  !  Psalm  cxxxix.  17. 

6.  Behold,  I  lay  in  Zion  for  a  founda- 
tion, a  stone,  a  tried  stone,  a  precious- 
corner  stone,  a  sure  foundation.  Isaiah 
xxviii.  16. 

7.  Precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord 
is  the  death  of  His  saints.     Ps.  cxvi.  15. 

Unto  you  therefore  which  believe  He- 
I  is  precious.     Amen,     i  Peter  ii.  7. 

SF:VEN    THINGS    WORTH    HAV- 
ING. 

1 .  The  grace  of  God  that  bringeth  sal- 
vation.    Tit.  ii.  II. 

2.  The  blessedness  of  the  man  whose 
transgression  is  forgiven,  whose  sin  is. 
covered.     Psa.  xxxii.  i. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


241 


3.  Peace  with  God.  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.     Rom.  v.  i. 

4.  A  great  High  Priest  that  is  passed 
into  the  heavens,  Jesus  the  Son  of  God. 
Heb.  iv.  14. 

5.  The  spirit  of  adoption,  whereby  we 
cry,  Abba,  Father.     Rom.  viii.  15. 

6.  An  inheritance  incorruptible  and 
undefiled,  that  fadeth  not  away,  reserved 
in  heaven  for  you.     i  Pet.  i.  4. 

7.  A  crown  of  righteousness,  which  the 

Lord  the  righteous  Judge  shall  give  me 
at  that  day.     2  Tim.  iv.  8. 

He  that  hath  the  Son  hath  life,  i  Jno. 
v.  12. 


SEVEN   MARKS  OF  REGENERA- 
TION. 

1 .  Every  one  that  doeth  righteousness 
is  born  of  God.     1  John  li.  29. 

2.  Whosoever  is  born  of  God  doth  not 
commit  sin.     i  John  iii.  9. 

3.  Every  one  that  loveth  is  bom  of 
God  and  knoweth  God.     i  John  iv.  7. 

4.  Whosoever  believeth  that  Je.sus  is 
the  Christ  is  born  of  God.     i  John  v.  i. 

5.  Whosoever  is  born  of  God  over- 
cometh  the  world,     i  John  v.  4. 

6.  He  that  is  begotten  of  God  keepeth 
himself,  and  that  Wicked  One  toucheth 
him  not.      i  John  v.  18. 

7.  Blessed  be  the  God  and  Father  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  which  according 
to  His  abundant  mercy  hath  begotten  us 
again  unto  a  lively  hope  by  the  resurrec- 
tion of  Jesus  Christ  from  the  dead,  i 
Pet.  i.  3. 

Jesus  said  unto  him  :  Verily,  verily,  I 
say  unto  thee,  except  a  man  be  born 
again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God. 
John  iii.  3.     Amen. 


SEVEN  THINGS  WORTH  KNOW- 
ING. 

1.  We  know  that  the  Son  of  God  is 
come,  and  hath  given  us  an  understand- 
ing that  we  may  know  Him  that  is  true. 
I  John  V.  20. 

2.  We  hiow  that  He  was  manifested 
to  take  away  our  sins,      i  John  iii.  5. 

3.  We  know  that  we  have  passed  from 
death  unto  lite,  because  we  love  the 
'brethren,     i  John  iii.  14. 

16 


4.  We  know  and  believe  the  love  that 
God  hath  in  us.     i  John  iv.  16. 

5.  We  know  that  He  abideth  in  us  by 
the  Spirit  which  He  hath  given  us.  i 
John  iii.  24. 

7.  We  kno^v  that  all  things  work  to- 
gether for  good  to  them  that  love  God. 
Rom.  viii,  28. 

7.  We  know  that  if  out  earthly  house 
of  this  tabernacle  were  dissolved  we  have 
a  building  of  God — an  house  not  made 
with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens.  2 
Cor.  V.  I. 

And  hereby  we  do  know  that  we 
know  Him,  if  we  keep  His  command- 
ments.    I  John  ii.  3. 


SEVEN  BEATITUDES  FROM  THE 
PSALMS. 

1.  Blessed  is  he  whose  transgression  is 
forgiven,  whose  sin  is  covered.  Ps.  xxiii.  i. 

2.  Blessed  is  the  man   that   walketh 

not  in  the  counsel  of  the  ungodly.     Psa. 
i.  I. 

3.  Blessed  is  that  man  that  maketh  the 
Lord  his  trust.     Psa.  xl.  4. 

4.  Blessed  is  the  man  that  feareth  the 
Lord,  that  delighteth  greatly  in  His  com- 
mandments.    Psa.  cxii.  1. 

5.  Blessed  is  the  man  whose  strength 
is  in  Thee.     Psa.  Ixxxiv.  5. 

6.  Blessed  is  the  man  whom  Thou 
chastenest,  O  Lord,  and  teachest  him  out 
of  Thy  law.     Ps.  xciv.  12. 

7.  Blessed  are  they  that  dwell  in  Thy 
house.  Psa.  Ixxxiv.  4.  In  the  house  of 
the  Lord  for  ever.     Psa.  xxiii.  6. 

Blessed  are  they  which  are  called  unto 
the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb.  Rev.. 
xix.  9.     Amen. 


SEVEN  BLESSEDS    OF   REVELA- 
TION. 

He  that  readeth,    and  they  that  hear^ 

chap.  i.  3.     The  dead  which  die  in  the 

Lord,  chap,   xiv.  i.     He   that   watcheth 

and  keepeth  his  garments,  chap.  xvi.   15.. 

They  which  are  called  to  the  marriage 

supper,  chap.  xix.  9.     He  that  hath  part 

in  the* first  resurrection,  chap.  xx.  6.    He 

that  keepeth  the  sayings,  chap.  xxii.  7, 

They  that  do  His  commandments,  chap. 

xxii.  14. 


242 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    KKADINGS. 


A  SEVENFOLD    ASPECT  OF  THE 
BELIEVER'S   RESPONSIBILITY. 
Salt  of  the  earth.     Matt.  v.  13. 
Light  of  the  world.     Matt.  v.  14. 
A  city  set  on  a  hill.     Matt.  v.  14. 
Epistles  of  Christ.     2  Cor.  iii.  3. 
Fruit-bearing  branches.     John  xv.  8. 
Witnesses.     Isa.  xliii.  10. 
Servants.     John  xiii.  16. 


THE  SEVEN  MYSTERIES  OF  THE 
NEW  TESTAMENT. 

1.  The  mystery  of  the  Kingdom  of 
Heaven.     See  Matt.  xiii.  11. 

2.  The  blindness  in  parfthat  happened 
to  Israel.     See  Rom.  xi.  25. 

3.  The  mystery  of  those  who  are  to  be 
changed,  and  of  those  who  are  to  be 
raised  at  the  return  of  our  Lord  Jesus. 
See  I  Cor.  xv.  5^->  S^- 

4.  The  mystery  concerning  Christ  and 
the  Church.  Eph.  v.  32.  See  also  Rom. 
xvi.  25,  26  ;  Eph.  iii.  3-10  ;  Col.  i.  25- 
27. 

5.  The  mystery  of  God,  and  of  the 
Father,  and  of  Christ.     Col.  ii.  2. 

6.  The  mystery  of  iniquity  (Lawless- 
ness.)    2  Thes.  ii.  7. 

7.  The  mystery  of  God.     Rev.  x.  7. 

W.  H.  P.  W. 


SEVEN    COMMANDS  AS  TO  OUR 
SPEECH. 

Let  no  corrupt  communication  proceed 
out  of  your  mouth.     Eph.  iv.  29. 

Laying  aside ....  all  evil  speaking.  1 
Pet.  ii.  I. 

The  word  I  speak  to  thee,  that  thou 
shalt  speak.     Num.  xxii.  35. 

Talk  ye  of  all  His  wondrous  works, 
t's.  cv.  2. 

Tell how  great  things   the  Lord 

hath  done  for  thee.     Mark  v.  19. 

Speak  my  word  faithfully.  Jer.  xxiii. 
28. 

Speak  every  man  truth  with  his  neigh- 
bour.    Eph,  iv.  25. 

THE  BELIEVER'S  RESPONSE. 

Set  a  watch,  O  Lord,  before  my  mouth; 
keep  the  door  of  my  lips.  Psa.  cxli.  3. 
Let  the  words  of  my  mouth be  ac- 
ceptable in  Thy  sight,  O  Lord.  Ps.  xix. 
M. 


SEVEN  DAILY  THINGS. 
Daily  bread.  Matt.  vi.  2.  Daily  cross. 
Luke  ix.  23,  Daily  increase  in  the 
church.  Acts  xvi.  5.  Daily  searching  of 
scripture.  Acts  xvii.  2.  Daily  dying,  i 
Cor.  XV.  31.  Daily  exhorting.  Heb.  xiii 
13.     Daily  watching.     Pro.  viii.  34. 


SEVEN  CAUTIONS. 
Beware  lest  ye  forget  God.  Deut.  vi. 
12.  Beware  lest  any  man  spoil  you. 
Col.  ii.  8,  Beware  of  evil  workers.  Phil. 
iii.  2.  Beware  of  being  led  away.  2 
Pet.  iii.  1 7.  Beware  of  hypocrisy.  Luke 
xii.  I.  Beware  lest  that  come  on  you. 
Acts  xiii.  40.  Beware  of  covetousness. 
Luke  xii.  15. 


THE    MULTIPLICATION    TABLE 

OF  FORGIVENESS. 
Peter — 7  times    i  ) 

>  Charity  never  faileth 
Christ — 7  times  70  )     Matt,  xviii.  21,  22. 

SEVEN  QUESTIONS  OF  OUR 
LORD. 

"  Answer  Ye," 

1.  Friend  wherefore  art  thou  come? 
Matt,  xxvi,  50. 

2.  What  seek  ye  ?    John  i,  38. 

3.  What  wilt  thou  that  I  shall  do  unto 
thee  ?     Mark  x.  51. 

4.  Believe  ye  that  I  am  able  to  do 
this  ?     Matt.  ix.  28. 

5.  Wilt  thou  be  made  whole  ?  Jno.v.6. 

6.  Dost  thou   believe  on  the  Son  01 
God  ?     John  ix.  35. 

7.  Who  touched  me?     Luke  viii.  45. 


SEVEN  BEHOLDS. 

1.  Behold  I  was  shapen  in  iniquity, 
Psa.  Ii.  5. 

2.  Behold  I  bring  you  good  tidings  of 
great  joy,  Luke  ii.  10. 

3.  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God,  Jno.i.29. 

4.  Behold  now  is  the  accepted  time,  2 
Cor,  vi.  2. 

5.  Behold  now  is  the  day  of  salvation, 
2  Cor.  vi.  2. 

6.  Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door  and 
knock,  Rev.  iii.  19. 

7.  Behold  he  prayeth,  Actsix.  11. 


NOTES    FOR    BiBLb    READINGS. 


243 


SEVEN  THOUGHTS  ABOUT 
LOOKING  TO  JESUS. 

As  a  sinner  my  remedy  is  to  look  at 
Him,  John  i.  36. 

As  a  dead  one  look  and  live,  Num. 
xsi.  ;  John  iii.  13,  14. 

As  a  saint  I  grow  by  looking  at  Him, 

2  C\rr.  iii.   18.  .  . 

Do  I  want  to  learn  dispensational 
truth,  Eph.  i.  17  to  end. 

Gazing  on  Him  I  learn  my  oneness 
with  Him,  Heb.  ii.  9-1 1. 

I  am  nerved  for  the  race,  Heb.  xii.  2, 

As  to  the  future  a  sight  of  Him  will 
change  me  bodily  into  His  image,  i 
John  iii.  2.  C.  S.  B. 


THE  SEVEN  CRIES  OF  THE 
REDEEMER  ON  THE  CROSS. 

1.  Father  forgive  them  they  know  not 
what  they  do,  Luke  xxiii.  34. 

2.  To-day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in 
paradise,  Luke  xxiii,  43. 

3.  My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou 
forsaken  me.  Matt,  xxvii.  46. 

4.  Woman    behold  thy   Son,    to   his 

mother ;    behold    thy    mother,    to    the 
disciple,  John  xix.  26. 

5.  I  thirst,  John  xix.  28, 

6.  It  is  finislied,  John  xix.  30. 

7.  Father  into  Thy  hand  I  commend 
my  Spirit,  Luke  xxiii.  46. 


SEVEN  ETERNALS  IN  HEBREWS. 

1.  Salvation,    v.  9. 

2.  Judgment,     vi.  2. 

3.  Redemption,     ix.  12. 

4.  Spirit,     ix.  14. 

5.  Inheritance,     ix.  15. 

6.  Covenant,     xiii.    20. 

7.  Perfection,     vii.  28. 

J.  H.  E, 


SEVEN  HENCEFORTHS. 

1.  I  call  you  not  servants.  . .  .     John 
XV.  5. 

2.  We  should  not  serve  sin.  Rom.vi.6. 

3.  Not  to  live  unto  themselves.    2  Cor. 
V.  15. 

4.  Know  we   no  man  after  the  flesh. 
2  Cor.  v.  16. 

5.  Be  no  more  children.     Eph.  iv.  14. 

6.  Hope  in  the  Loi-d  from  henceforth. 
Psalm  cxxxi.  3. 

7.  There  is  laid  up   for  me  a  crown 
2  Tim.  iv.  8. 


SEVENFOLD     TRIALS     OF     OUR 

LORD  AT  THE  END  OF  HIS 

EARTHLY    LIFE. 

1.  Temptation  by  Satan.     Matt.  xxvi. 

39-44- 

2.  Betrayal  by  Judas.     Matt.  xxvi. 49. 

3.  Forsaken  by  His  disciples.  Matt, 
xxvi.   56. 

4.  Denial  of  Peter.      Matt.  xxvi.  70. 

5.  Chief  priests  against  Him.  Matt, 
xxvii.  I. 

6.  Pilate  condemns  Him  against  his 
conscience.     Matt,  xxvii.  19-26. 

7.  Father's  face  hidden.  Matt.xxvii.46. 

We  have  not  an  high  priest  that  can- 
not be  touched  with  a  feeling  of  our 
infirmities,  but  was  in  all  points  tempted 
like  as  we  are.  Perfect  through  suffering. 


SEVEN   FELLOWSHIPS. 

I.  Fellowship  of  His  Son  Jesus  Christ. 
I  Cor.  i.'9. 

r2.  Fellowship  of  the  mystery.  Eph 
iii.  9. 

3.  Fellowship  of  the  Spirit.  2  Cor, 
xiii.  14 ;  Phil.  ii.   i. 

4.  Fellowship  of  His  sufferings.  Phil. 
iii.  10. 

5.  Fellowship  with  the  Father,  ijohn 
i.  3.  6. 

6.  Fellowship  one  with  another,  i 
John  i.  7  :  Acts  ii.  42  ;  Phil.  i.  5. 

7.  Fellowship  with  the  blood,  i  Cor 
X.  16. 


SEVEN    CUPS. 

1.  Trembling.     Isaiah  I.  ly,  22, 

2.  Salvation.     Psalm  cxvi.  13 

3.  Consolation.     Jer.  xvi.7. 

4.  Suffering.    Matt.xx.22, 

5.  Blessing.      i  Cor.  x.  16. 

6.  The  Lord.     Psalm  xvi.  5. 

7.  Wrath.     Rev.  xvi.  9. 

I  took  the  cup   at  the   Lord's   hand 
Jer.  XXV.  9.  ■ 


SEVEN  TRUMPETS, 

1.  Law.     Exodus   xix.  16. 

2.  Gathering.      Num.    x.    2. 

3.  Journeying.     Num.   x.  5. 

4.  Victory.     Joshua  vi.  4;  Num.  x.  9 
Judges  vii.  18. 

5.  Joy.     Psalm  xcviii.  6;  Num. x.  10 
2  Ch^on.  xxix.  2. 

6.  Warning.     Eze.  xxxiii.  3. 

7.  Christ's  coming,      i  Cor.  xv.  52  ;  i 
Thess.  iv.  16. 


244 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


SEVEN  "  ONE  THINGS." 

Needed.     Luke  x.  42.- 
Lacking.     Mark  x.  21. 
Desired.     Psalm  xxvii.  4. 
Enjoyed.     John   ix.  25. 
lieaiing  fruit.     Phil.  iii.  13. 
Longsuffering.     2  Peter  iii.  8. 
Faithfulness.     Joshua  xxiii,  14. 


j       Pisgah.      Future     inheritance.      Deut 

1  xiv,  I. 

I      Olives.     The  coming.     Zech.  xiv.  4. 

I      Zion.     The  final  kingdom.     Isa.  xxiv, 

123. 


SEVEN    REFERENCES    TO    THE 
LAMB    IN   REVELATION. 

Wrath  of  the  Lamb.     vi.  16. 
Blood  of  the  Lamb.     vii.  14. 
Book  of  life  of  the  Lamb.     xiii.  8. 
Song  of  the  Lamb.,    xv.  3, 
Marriage  of  the  Lamb.     xix.  7. 
Marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb.  xix.  9. 
Throne  of  the  Lamb.     xxii.  i. 


SEVEN  ROCKS. 

1.  Salvation,     Psa.  Ixxxix.  26. 

2.  Stability.     Matt.  xvi.  18. 

3.  Security.      Ps.  xc.  22. 

4.  Shelter.     Ps.  Ixxi.  31. 

5.  Satisfaction,     i  Cor.  x.  4. 

6.  Strength.     Ps.  xxxi.  2. 

7.  Shadow.     Isa.  xxxii.  2. 


SEVEN  CROWNS. 

1.  Crown  of  thorns.      Matt,  xxvii.  29. 

2.  Crown  of  life.     Jas.  i.  12  ;  Rev.  ii. 
10. 

3.  Crown   of  righteousness.      2   Tim. 
iv.  8. 

4.  Crovi-'n  of  rejoicing,     i  Thes.  ii.  19. 

5.  Crown  incorruptible.      I  Cor.  ix.25. 

6.  Crown  of  glory,     i  Pet.  v.  4. 

7.  Crown  of  gold.     Rev.  iv.  4. 


SEVEN   HOPES. 

1.  Without    Christ,    having  no   hope. 
Eph.  ii.  12.. 

2.  Christ  in   you  the   hope   of  glory. 
Col.  i.  27. 

3.  Jesus  Christ  who  is  our  hope,     i 
Tim.  i.  I. 

4.  Which  hope  we  have,   etc.     Heb. 
vi.  19. 

5.  The  hope  of  eternal  life.     Tit.  iii.7« 

6.  Blessed  hope.     Jer.  xvii.  7. 

7.  Rejoicing  in  hope.     Rom.  xii. 


SEVEN  MOUNTS. 

Sinai.     The  law.     Deut.  xxxiii.  2. 

Ebal.  The  curse  of  the  law.-  Deut. 
xxvii.  13. 

Calvary,  The  curse  removed.  Luke 
xxii.  33. 

Gerizim.  Present  blessing.  Deut. 
xxvii.  12. 


,  SEVEN    PROMISES    FOR    SEVEN 
STATES  OF  NEED. 

1.  Are  you  tired.     Isa.  xl.  29,  31. 

2.  Are  you  hungry.     Isa.  kl.  11. 

3.  Are  you  thirsty.      Isa.  xli.  18  ;  xliv. 
3  ;  Iviii.  II. 

4.  Are  you  fearful.     Isa.  xli.  10,  13. 

5.  Are  you    troubled.     Isa.  xxvi.  3,  4. 

6.  Are  you  tempted.      Isa.  Hx.  19. 

7.  Are  you  fighting.     Isa.  liv.  17. 

In  whatsoever  state  thou  art.  Isa.  xlix. 
16. 


I. 

66. 

2. 

xvii. 
3- 
4. 

Col. 

5- 
6. 
22. 


SEVEN  ASSURANCES. 
No  ass6rance  of  life.     Deut,  xxviii 

Full  assurance  unto  all  men.     Acts 

31- 

Much  assurance,     i  Thes.  i.  5. 
Full     assurance    of  understanding, 
ii.  2, 

Full  assurance  of  hope.  Heb.  vi.ii. 
Full  assurance  of   faith,     Heb.  X. 


7.  Assurance  for  ever.     Isa.  xxxii.  17. 


A  SEVENFOLD   CONSECRATION. 

1.  My  eyes  are  to  be  upon  Jesus.  Acts 
xii.  2. 

2.  My  feet  to  be  in  the  race  course. 
Acts  xii.  I. 

3.  My  hands  are  to  minister  to  others. 
Eph.  iv.  28. 

4.  My  mind  to  be  set  on  things  above. 
Col.  iii.  2  (margin.) 

5.  My  heart  to  be  established  in  grace. 
Heb.  xiii.  9. 

6.  My  body  to  be  a  living  sacrifice 
Rom.  xvii.  i.    , 

7.  Myself — spirit,  soul  and  body- 
blameless  at  the  coming  of  Jesus  Christ 
I  Thes.  V.  23. 


SEVEN  REWARDS  TO  OVER- 
COMERS. 

1.  To  him  that  overcometk  will  I  give 

to  eat  of  the  tree  of  life,  which  is  in  the 
midst  of  the  paradise  of  God.    Rev.  ii.7. 

2.  He   that   overcometk   shall   not    be 
hurt  of  the  second  death.     Rev.  ii.  11, 

3.  To  him  that  overcometk  will  I  give 
j  to  eat  of  the  hidden  manna,  and  will 
'  give  him  a  white  stone,  and  in  the  stone 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


245 


H   Dew  name  written,    which   no   man 

knoweth    saving    he   that   receiveth   it. 
Rev.  ii.  17. 

4    He  that  overcometh,  and  keepeth  my 

works  unto  the   end,  to  him  will  I  give 

power  over  the  nations :...  .even  as  I 

received  of  my  Father.     And  I  will  give 
him  the  morning  star.     Rev.  ii.  26-28. 

5.  He  that  overcometh,  the  same  shall 

be  clothed  in  white  raiment ;  and  I  will 

not  blot  out  his  name  out  of  the  book  of 

life,  but  I  will  confess  his  name  before 

my     Father,    and    before    His    angels. 
Rev.  iii.  5. 

6.  Him  that  overcometh  will  I  make  a 
pillar  in  the  temple  of  my  God,  and  he 
shall  go  no  more  out :  and  I  will  write 
upon  him  the  name  of  my  God,  and  the 
name  of  the  city  of  my  God,  which  is 
New  Jerusalem,  which  cometh  down  out 
of  heaven  from  my  God:  and  I  will 
write  upon  him  my  new  name.  Rev. 
iii.   12. 

7.  To  him  \h2X  overcometh  will  I  grant 
to  sit  with  Me  in  my  throne,  even  as  I 
also  overcame,  and  am  set  down  with 
my  Father  in  His  throne.     Rev.  iii.  21. 

Reader,  will  you  be  an  overcomer, 
and  make  these  glorious  rewards  your 
own? 


SEVEN  TOGETHERS. 
Quickened  us  together.  Eph.  ii.  5,  6. 
Raised  us  up  together.  Eph.  ii.  5,  6. 
Sit  together.  Eph.  ii.  5,  6. 
Workers  together  with  him.  2  Cor.vi.i. 
Glorified  together.  Rom.  viii.  17,  28. 
"Work  together  for  good.Rom.viii.  17,28. 
Planted  together.     Rom.  vi.  5, 


SEVEN  WITHOUTS. 

1.  Without  shedding  of  blood  is  no 
remission.  Heb.  ix.  22  ;  John  vi.  53-56; 
Acts  XX.  28 ;  Rom,  iii.  24-26  ;  Eph.  ii. 
13  ;  Rev.  xii.  11. 

2.  Without   faith  it  is  impossible  to 

please  Him. — Heb,  xi.  6 ;  Rom.  xiv.  23. 

Hence  the  prominence  that  is  given  to 

faith  in  the  New  Testament,  where  it  is 

mentioned  more  than  five  hundred  times. 

— John   i.   12  ;    iii.    14-18 :    Acts   x.    43 ; 

Rom.  iv.  5  ;  i  Cor.  i,  21 ;  2  Cor.  i.  24  ; 
Eph.  ii.  8  ;  Rev.  ii.  13. 


3.  Follow  peace  with  all  men,  and 
holiness,  without  which  no  man  shall 
see  the  Lord. — Heb.  xii.  14.  It  is  not 
said  to  us,  become  holy,  but  be  holy,  for 
we  are  already  partakers  of  Christ's 
hohness. — Gal.  v.  24 ;  Eph.  v.  i ;  Phil, 
iii.  3  ;  Col.  i.  21,  22 ;  i  Peter  i.  15,  16. 

4.  As  the  body  without  the  spirit  is 
dead,  so  faith  without  works  is  dead 
also.  James  ii.  26;  Matt.  v.  16;  John 
vi.  29 ;  Rom.  xi.  6 ;  Rev.  xiv.  13. 

5.  That  He  would  grant  unto  us,  that 
we,  being  delivered  out  of  the  hand  of 
our  enemies,  might  serve  Him  without 
fear,  in  holiness  and  righteousness  before 
Him,  all  the  days  of  our  life.  Luke  i. 
74,  75  ;  John  XV.  11  ;  xvi.  24;  Rom.  v. 
5  ;  Gal.  V.  6;  2  Tim.  i.  7;  i  John  iv.  17. 

6.  If  ye  be  without  chastisement, 
whereof  all  are  partakers,  then  are  ye 
bastards,  and  not  sons.  Heb.  xii.  8 ; 
Phil.  i.  29  ;  Matt.  v.  11,  12 ;  Luke  vi.22, 
23  ;  Acts  v.  41 ;  Rom.  v,  2 ;  i  Peter  iv. 
12-14  ; 

7.  Without  Me  ye  can  do  nothing. 
John  XV.  5. 

SEVENFOLD  POWER  OF  CHRIST. 

1.  His  power  in  heaven.  John  i.  1-3; 
John  i.  10  ;  i  Cor.  viii.  6  ;  Eph.  iii.  9  ; 
Col.  i,  16;  Heb.  i.  2;  Isaiah  ix.  6  ;  Psa. 
xxxiii.  6  ;  Psalm  cii.  25  ;  John  v.  17,  18; 
x.  30  ;  Phil.  ii.  6  ;  Rev.  i.  8 ;  iii.  14. 

2.  His  power  on  earth.  Matt.  ix.  6  ; 
Matt.  xi.  5  ;  Matt.  viii.  27 ;  Luke  vii.  50J 
Mark  viii.  19;  John  xi.  43,  44;  Matt, 
viii.  2,3;  ix,  20-22  ;  xvii.  18  ;  Mark  iii. 
5  ;  Luke  vii.  11-15  ;  viii.  23,  24. 

3.  His  power  in  death.  John  xii.  24- 
33  ;  Lev.  xvii.  11  ;  Isaiah  liii,  5;  Matt, 
xxvi.  28 ;  Rom.  v.  lO ;  i  Cor.  xi.  26  ; 
Gal.  iii.  13 ;  Eph,  i.  7 :  Phil.  ii.  8 ;  Col. 
i.  21,  22  ;  Heb.  ii.  9 ;  i  John  i.  7;  Rev. 
V.  9. 

4.  His  power  in  resurrection.  Rom. 
i.  4  ;  Matt,  xxviii.  18 ;  Acts  ii.  24 ;  Rom. 
iv.  25  ;  vi.  6-9  ;  viii.  34;  Eph.  *ii.  4-6  ; 
Col.  ii.  12;  iii.  1-4  ;  i  Peter  i.  3. 

5.  His  power  in  exaltation.  Eph.  i. 
20-23  ;  John  xiv..  19 ;  Acts  v.  31  ;  Rom. v. 


246 


NOTES    FOR    BiBLii    READINGS. 


10;  I  Cor.  i.  24;  Phil.  ii.  6-11 ;  i  Peter 
iii.  22  ;  Rev.  i.  18. 

6.  His  power  in  intercession.  Heb. 
vii.  25  ;  Exodus  xxviii.  38  ;  i  John  ii.  i ; 
John  xiv;  Heb.  ii.  17,  18;  iv.  15,  16;  v. 
I,  2;  Psalm  ciii.  14;  Hosea  xi.  8;  John 
xiii.  I ;  Eph.  v.  25-27. 

7.  His  power  in  His  second  coming. 
Matt.  xxiv.  30;  I  Thess.  iv.  16-18  ;  John 
xiv.  3  ;  Col.  iii.  4  ;  i  Thess.  i.  10  ;  iii.  13; 
2  Tim.  iv.  8  ;  Titus  ii.  13  ;  Heb.  ix.  28; 
^-  37  >  James  v.  8 ;  i  John  ii.  28. 


SEVEN  NEW  THINGS, 

1.  A  new  creature,  2  Cor.  v.  17;  Rom. 
V.  11-21;  John  iii.  16;  Eph.  v.  30;  Col. 
iii.  9,  10  ;  Gal.  vi.  15  ;  Eph.  iv.  22-24  ; 
John  i.  12,  13;  iii.  1-15 ;  Rom.  vii.  13- 
25;  viii.  6-9;  Gal.  iii.  26;  v.  17;  i 
John  V.  I. 

2.  A  new  tongue,  Mark  xvi.  17;  Psa. 
V.  9 ;  X.  7  ;   1.  19  ;  Hi.  2  ;    Ivii.  4  ;   Ixxiii. 

9  ;  cxl,  3  ;  Rom.  iii.  13  ;  James  iii.  6  ; 
Psa.  xxxv.  28  ;  xxxix.  i ;  Phil.  ii.  11 ;  i 
Pet.  iii.  ID ;  see  Psa.  Ii.  14 ;  Ixxi.  24 ; 
Mark  vii.  35  ;  Acts  ii.  4 ;  James  i.  26. 

3.  A  new  song,  Ps.  xl.  2,  ,3  ;  Matt. 
xxvi.  40;  Heb.  ii.  12;  Rev.  v.  9-12; 
Psa.  cxxxviii.  4,  5  ;  2  Chron.  xx.  21,  22  ; 
xxix.  27,  28  ;  Num.  xxi.  9,  17  ;  Acts  xvi, 
25  ;  Rom.  XV.  9  ;  Eph.  v.  19  ;  Col.  iii. 
16  ;  James  v.  13. 

4.  A  new  name,  Rev.  ii.  17  ;  iii.  12  ; 
xix.  12  ;  I  Cor.  xii.  12 ;  Matt,  i,  21 ; 
Luke  xxiv.   47;    John  xiv.   13,   14,  26; 

Acts  iv.  12  ;   V.  41  ;    ix.  15  ;    Phil.  ii.  9, 

10  ;  James  ii.  7. 

5.  A  new  covenant,  Heb.  viii.  8-13  ; 
K.  15-17  ;  Matt.  xxvi.  28  ;  Rom,  xi.  27; 
I  Cor.  xi.  25  ;  2  Cor.  iii.  6  ;  Gal.  iii.  17 ; 
Heb,  vii.  22  ;  ix.  15,  17  ;  xii.  24;  xiii.  20. 

6.  A   new  commandment,  John  xiii. 

34;    John  XV.  12-17  ;    xvii.  21-23;    Acts 

i.  44-47  ;    Rom.  xii.  10,  19  ;    i  Cor.  xiii, 

1-7  ;  2  Cor.  xiii.  11  ;  Gal.  v.  13-15  ;  Eph. 

iv.  30-32  ;    V.  I,  2  ;    Phil,  ii,  1-3,  14,  15  ; 

Col.  iii.  12-15  ;.  i  Thess  iv.  9 ;  Heb.  x. 

24;  James  iii.  13-18;  i  Pet.  iii.  8,  9;  iv. 

7,  8 ;  I  John  ii.  8-1 1  ;  iii.  10-16,  23; 
iv.  7-12. 

7.  A  new  home,  Rev.  xxi.   i ;    John 

liv.  3  ;    Ps.   xvi.  11  ;    2  Thess.  ii.  i  ;    i. 

Thess.  iv.  15-18  ;  2  Pet.  iii.  11-14;  Rev. 
jxii.  20.     J.  H.  B- 


SEVEN  TWO'S. 

1.  Two  opinions,     i  Kings  xviii.  21; 

Gen.  xlix.  4;  James  '.  6,  7;    Josh,  xxiv, 

15  ;  Ruth  i.  15,  16  ;  Matt.   xii.  30 ;  xvi. 

24-27  ;  Luke  xiv.  26,  27  ;  John  vi.  67-69  ; 
I  John  ii.  18,  19. 

2.  Two  treasures.  Matt.  vi.  19,  20; 
Psalm  xlix.  6-9 ;  Luke  xviii.  24,  25 ; 
Eph.  ii.  6,  19  ;  Phil.   iii.  20,  21 ;  i  Tim. 

vi.   6-9 ;  Heb.   xiii.    5,   6 ;  James  iv.  4 ; 

1  John  ii.  15. 

3.  Two  masters.  Matt.  vi.  24 ;  2. 
37-39  ;  Luke  ix.  59-62  ;  Rom.  xii.  12  ;  i 
Cor.  vi.  19,  20 ;  x.  31  ;  Gal.  i.  10 ;  Phil, 
i.  21  ;  2  Tim.  iv.  10. 

4.  Two  ways.  Matt.  vii.  13,  14;  Luke 
xii.  32;  xiii.  23-27;  John   xvi.  33;  Acts 

xiv.  22  ;  I   Cor.  i.  26-29  '•  Phil.  iii.   18  ; 

2  Tim.  iii.  12,  13  ;  i  John  v.  19. 

5.  Two  debtors.     Luke  vii.  41 ;  Mark 

v.  34;  X.  52  ;  Luke  xix,  10  ;  John  iii.  16; 

Acts  X.  43;  xiii.  39;    I  Cor.   vi.   9-11; 
I  Tim.  i.  15. 

6.  Two  men.  Luke  xviii.  10 ;  Rom. 
iii.  22,  23  ;  Rom.  iii.  24,  26,  28  ;  v.  i,  9 ; 
vi.  7,  [margin];  Gal.  ii.  16;  iii.  11-13; 
Titus  iii,  5-7  ;  i  Peter  i.  18,  19. 

7.  Two  resurrections.  Rev.  xx.  5,  6  ; 
Mark  ix,  10  ;  Luke  xiv.  14 ;  John  v.  29 ; 
I  Cor.  XV,  23 ;  Phil.  iii.  10,  11 ;  i  Thess. 
iv.  16-18. 


SEVEN  THINGS  THAT  FAIL  NOT 

1.  The  Lord  faileth  not.  Deut.  xxxi. 
6,  8 ;  Josh.  i.  5  ;  Heb.  xiii.  5  ;  i  Chron^ 
xxviii.  20  ;  Ps,  xxvii.  10  ;  Isa.  xlix.  15 ; 
John  X.  27,  28 ;  xiii.  i  ;  Acts  xviii.  9, 10  ; 
2  Tini.  iv.  16,  17. 

2.  His  word  fails  not.  Josh,  xxi.  45  ; 
xxiii,  14  ;  Prov.  vi,  22  ;  Ps.  cxix,  89' ; 
Isa.  xl.  8  ;  Jer.  xxix.  10  ;  Matt.  xxiv.  35  ; 
Luke  iv.  32;  2  Tim.  iii.  16;  i  Peter  i. 
25  ;  I  John  ii.  14. 

3.  His  Spirit  fails  not.  2  Kings  iv,  2  ; 
John  iii.  34;  vii,  38,  39;  xiv.  16,  17  j 
Ps,  cxxxiii.  2  ;  Isa.  xi.  2  ;  John  i.  16  ; 
I  Cor.  xii.  4-1 1 ;  Rev.  v.  6. 

4.  His  compassions  fail  not.  Lam. 
iii.  22  ;  Heb.  xii.  6;  Ps.  ciii.  13;  Matt. 
ix.  36  ;  xiv.  14-21 ;  xx.  34;  Mark  i.  41  r, 
Luke  vii.  13  ;  x,  33-35  ;  xv,  20. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


H7 


5.  A  treasure  m  the  heavens  fails  not. 
Lukexii.  33  ;  Matt,  x,  25  ;  Phil.  iv.  19  ; 
Matt.  vi.  19-21  ;  Mark  x.  21-23  ;  Luke 
xii.  32;  John  xiv.  1-3;  Acts  xx.  35; 
Rom.  viii,  28  ;  1  Cor.  iii.  21-23 ;  i  Tim. 
vi.  6-10  ;  I  Pet.  i.   3-9. 

6.  Faith  fails  not.  Luke  xxii.  32  ; 
John  xvii,  9,  20 ;  Rom.  viii.  34  ;  Phil.  i. 
6;  Heb.  ii.  17,  18;  iv.  15;  vii.  25;  ix. 
24  ;  Ex.  xxviii.  38. 

7.  Love  fails  not.  i  Cor;  xiii.  8;  Eph. 
V.  2  ;  2  Cor.  v.  14. 


SEVEN  THINGS  TO  WHICH  WE 
SHOULD  TAKE  HEED. 

1.  Take  heed  that  no  man  deceive 
/ou.  Matt,  xxiv.  4 :  i  Cor.  x.  32  ;  Matt, 
sxiv.  42 ;  Mark  xiii.  33-37 ;  Luke  xii. 
37-40 ;  xxi.  34-36 ;  John  xiv.  3 ;  xxi. 
20-23  ;  Acts  i.  II  ;  I  Cor,  i.  7  ;  xi.  26; 
Phil,  iii.  20;  I  Thess.  i.  10;  Titus  ii. 
13  ;  Heb.  ix.  28  ;  Rev.  xxii.   7,  12,  20. 

2.  Take  heed  what  ye  hear.  Mark 
iv.  24  ;  Prov.  vi.  27  ;  Isa.  viii.  20  ;  Matt, 
xxiv.  35  ;  John  xiv.  26;  xv.  3  ;  xvi.  13  ; 
xvii.  17  ;    I  Thess.  ii.  13  ;    i  John  ii.  27. 

3.  Take   heed  therefore  how  ye  hear. 

Luke  viii.  18;  i  Sam.  iii.  9,  10;  Psalm 

jxix.  II  ;  Jer.   xxii.  29  ;  Acts  xiii.  26;  2 

rim.   iii.  16,    17 ;  Heb.  ii.  i ;  iv.    2,  12  ; 
James  i.  22,  25  ;    i  Peter,  i.  25. 

4.  Take  heed  to  yourselves.  Luke 
xxi.  34  ;  Phil.  iii.  3  ;  Psalm  Ii.  5  ;  Jer. 
xvii.  9  ;  Mark  vii.  21-23  ;  xiii.  9,  23,  33  ; 
Acts  XX.  28;  Rom.  vii.  18;  i  Cor.  x.12; 
I  Tim.  iv.  16. 

5.  Take  heed  how  ye  build,  i  Cor. 
iii.  16;  Mai.  iii.  16;  Matt.  xxv.  40; 
Mark  ix.  41  ;  Rom.  xiv.  23 ;  i  Cor.  x. 
31  ;  Gal.  i.  10  ;.  Col.  iii.  23  ;  Heb.  xi.  6  ; 

1  John  ii.  28. 

6.  Take  heed,   brethren,  lest  there  be 

m  any  of.  you  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief. 

Heb.  iii.    12  ;  Matt,  xiii,  58  ;  xvii.   20 ; 

xxi.  21,  22  ;  Mark  vi.  6  ;  xvi.  14 ;  Luke 

xvii.  5,  6  ;  John   v.  24  ;  vii.  38  ;  Acts  ii. 

44-47;  Rom,  i.   16  ;  xi.  20  ;  2  Cor.  iv. 
13  ;  2  Tim.  i.  12  ;  Heb.  xi.;  i  Pet.   i,  8. 

7.  Take  heed  to  the  sure  word  of 
prophecy.  2  Peter  i,  19  ;  Matt.  xxiv. 
42  ;  Mark  xiii.  33-37  ;  Luke  xii.  35-40  ; 
John  xiv.  3  ;  Acts  i.  11  ;  i  Thess.  i.  10  ; 

2  Tim.  iv.  8  ;  Titus  ii.  13  ;  Hebrews  ix. 
28  ;  X,  37;  James  V.  8  :  Rev,  xxii,  20. 


SEVEN  THINGS  ABOUT  I'EACK. 

1.  It  is  made.     Col,  i.  20;  Eph.  ii.13, 

14  ;  Ecc.  iii,  8  ;  Isaiah  ix.  6;   xxvi.    12  ; 

XX vii.  5;  xxxii.  17;  Iii.  5;  Luke  i.  79, 
ii.  15. 

2.  It  is  preached.      Acts  x.  36  ;  Eph. 

ii.  17 ;  Rom,  viii,  7 ;  i  John  iv,  10 ;  John 

iii.  16 ;  XV.  13  ;  Rom.  v.  8 ;  Gal.  ii.  20  ; 
Eph.  ii.  4,  5. 

3.  It  is  given.    John  xiv.  27  ;  John  v. 

24;  Acts  xiii.  39;  xvi.  31 ;  Rom,  iv.  5  ; 

1  John  V.  13. 

4.  It  is  possessed.  Rom,  v.  i  ;  Luke 
vii,  50 ;  Rom.  v,  10,  11 ;  2  Cor.  v.  i»-2i; 
Eph.  ii,  8,  9. 

5.  It  should  fill  the  heart.  Rom,  xv. 
13  ;  Luke  xi,  34-36  ;  John  xv.  7,11 ;  Rom 
xiv.  17;  2  Cor.  V.  5-8;  vi.  10  ;  Phil.i.21. 
iv.  13  J  Col,  iii.  17;  I  John  i.  7  ;  iii.  10. 

6.  It  should  keep  the  heart.  Phil.  iv. 
6,7;  Isaiah  xxvi.  3,  4;  Matt.  vi.  34  ; 
Luke  xii.  22  ;  Rom.  viii.  28,  32 ;  i  Cor. 
iii,  21-23 ;  Phil.  iv.  19. 

7.  It  should  rule  the  heart.      Col.  iii. 

15  ;  John  xvi.  33  ;  2  Thess.  iii.i6  ;  Heb. 
xiii,  20,  21 ;  Rom,  i.  7 ;  i  Cor,  i,  3  ;  2 
Cor,  i.  2  ;  Gal,  i.  3  ;  Eph.  i,  2 ;  Phil.i.  2; 
Col.  i.  2 ;  Thess.  i.  i  ;  2  Thess.  i.  2 ;  i 
Tim.i.2  ;  2  Tim.i.  2  ;  Titus  i.  4  ;  Philem. 
3  ;  I  Peter  i.  2  ;  2  Peter  i.  2  ;  2  John  3; 
.3  John  14  :  Jude  2  ;  Rev.  1.  4. 

SEVENFOLD  MEASURE  OF 
BLESSING. 

1.  Predestinated.  Eph.  i.  5  ;  Deut. 
vii.  7,  8  ;  Jer.  xxxi.  3  ;  John  xv.  16 ; 
Rom.  ix.    16;  Eph.  i.  4,  11  ;  i  Peter  i. 

2  ;  Rev.  iv.  11. 

2.  Called.  Rom.  viii.  28  ;  Rom.  viii. 
30;  Phil.  i.  6;  I  Thess.  v.  24;  2 Thess. 
ii.  13,  14;  I  Tim.  vi.  12;  Heb.  ix.  15  ; 
I  Peter  v.  10 ;  2  Peter  i.  3  ;  i  John  iii. 
1,2;  Jude  I  ;  Rev.  xvii.  14. 

3.  Saved.  Titus  iii.  5  ;  Matt.  ix.  12, 
13;  Luke  i.  72,  78;  Rom.  ix,  23.  24; 
Eph.  ii.  4-9 ;  2  Pet.  i.  3. 

4.  Forgiven.  Eph.  i.  7  ;  Heb.  xi.  12  ; 
John  i.  16,  17;  Acts  xv.  11;  Rom.  iii. 
24;  iv.  16;  V.  I,  2 ;  xi.  6;  I  Cor.  xr. 
10  ;  2  Cor.  viii.  9  ;  7.  Tim,  i.  9. 


248 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


5.  strengthened.  Col.  i.  11  ;  2  Cor, 
xii.  9,  10  ;  2  Kings  vi.  15-17  ;  Acts  i.  8  ; 
ri.  8  ;  Rom,  i.  16 ;  xv,  13  ;  i  Cor.  i.  18; 
2  Cor.  vi.  7  ;  2  Tim.  i-  7,  8  ;  i  Pet.  i.  5. 

6.  Supplied.  Phil.  iv.  19  ;  i  Cor.  iii. 
21,  22  ;  Heb.  xiii.  5,  6  ;  Matt.  vi.  25-34; 
John  xiv.  12-23  >  Eph.  iii.  20,  21. 

7.  To  be  fashioned,  Phil.  iii.  20,  21; 
Rom.  viii.  22,  23,  29;  i  Cor,  i.  7 ;  2 
Cor.  v.  I,  2 ;  I  Thess.  i.  9,  10 ;  ii.  19  ; 
iii.  13  ;  iv.  13-18  ;  V.  1-6  ;  2  Thess.  i.  10  ; 
ii.  1-8  ;  iii.  5  ;  Heb.  x.  37 ;  James  v.  7,  8; 
Rev.  xxii.  7,  12,  20. 


SEVEN    GIFTS    OF    GOD. 

1.  His  Son.    John  iii.  16. 

2.  His  Holy  Spirit.  John  xiv.  16, 17;. 
Acts  ii.  38  ;  Acts  X.  45. 

3.  Faith.     Eph.  ii.  8 ;  2  Cor.  iv.  13  ; 

1  Cor.  xii.  8,  9  ;  Luke  xvii.  5. 

4.  Grace.     Rom.   xii,  6;  i  Cor«  i.  4  ; 

2  Cor.  vi.  I ;  Eph.   iii.   7 ;  Eph.    iv.  7 ; 
James  iv.  6. 

5.  Righteousness.     Rom.  v.  17. 

6.  Peace.    John  xiv.  27. 

7.  Eternal  life.  Rom.  vi.  23  ;  i  John 
V.  II  ;  2  Cor.  ix.  15.        J.  H.  Brookes. 

SEVEN  PROOFS  OF  CHRIST'S 
DIVINITY. 

First,  He  is  called  God.  Compare 
Ps.  xiv.  6,  7,  with  Heb.  i.  8i  9  ;  Isa. 
ix.  1-6,  with  Matt,  iv.  12-16;  Isa.  xl.  3; 
liv.  5  ;  Zech.  xiv.  5  ;  Matt.  i.  22,  23 ; 
John  i.  I ;  x.  33  ;  xx.  28 ;  Rom.  ix.  5  ; 
I  Tim.  iii.  16  ;  Tit.  i.  3 ;  ii.  13  ;  i  John 
T.  20. 

Second,  He  is  called  the  Son  of  God 
in  the  sense  that  implies  sameness  of 
nature  with  the  Father.  Compare  Psa. 
ii.  7,  with  Acts  xiii.  33 ;  Matt.  iii.  17 ; 
xvi.  16  ;  xvii.  5  J  xxvii.  54  ;  Mark  iii.  11 ; 
V.  7  ;  xiv.  61,  62  ;  Luke  i.  35  ;  x,  22  ; 
John  i.  18,  34,  49  ;  iii.  18  ;  v.  25  ;  vi.  69; 
ix.  35,36;  X.  36;  xi.  4,  27;  xix.  7;  XX. 31 ; 
Acts  viii.  37 ;  Rom.  i.  4 ;  viii.  3  ;  i  Cor. 
i.  9;  2  Cor.  i.  19  ;  Gal.-  ii.  20;  Eph.  iv. 
13  ;  Col.  i.  13  ;  Heb.  iv.  14 ;  2  Pet.  i.  17; 
I  John  i.  3,  7;  ii.  22-24;  iv,  9,10,14, 
15 ;  v.  5,  10,  13  ;  Rev.  ii.  18. 


Third,  He  is  called  Lord  in  a  way  that 
proves  His  infinite  superiority  to  all 
creatures.  Matt.  xii.  8  ;  xx.  30  ;  xxii. 
43-45  .  xxiv.  42  ;  Mark  v.  19,  20 ;  ix. 
24  ;  xvi.  19,  20  ;  Luke  iii.  4  ;  ix.  59-62  ; 
x.  17  ;  xiii.  25  ;  xxiii.  42  ;  John  i.  23  ; 
xi.  21,  22  ;  xiii.  13  ;  Acts  i.  24  ;  ii.  36  ;  v. 
14;  vii.  59;  ix.  6,  13  ;  x.  36;  Rom.  i,  3; 
iv.  24;  vi,  23;  xiv.  8;  i  Cor.  i  3  ;  viii. 
6;  xii.  3  ;  2  Cor.  v.  10,  11  ;  Gal.  vi.  14  ; 
Eph.  iii.  II  ;  Phil.  ii.  11  ;  Col.  ii.  6  ;  iii. 
24 ;  I  Thess.  iii.  13  ;  2  Thess.  i,  8,  9  ;  i 
Tim.  i.  2  ;  2  Tim.  1,2;  Tit.  i.  4 ;  Phil. 
3  ;  Heb.  ii.  3  ;  James  i.  i  ;  i  Pet.  i.  3  ; 
2  Pet.  i.  II  ;  2  John  3  ;  Jude  14  ;  Rev. 
xix.  16.  The  title  of  Lord  is  applied  to 
Him  more  than  five  hundred  times  in 
the  New  Testament. 

Fourth,  He  is  declared  to  be  equal 
with  God,  John  iii.  35  ;  v.  17,  23;  x.  30, 
38;  xii.  45  ;  -xiv.  9,  11 ;  xv.  23,  24;  xvii, 
5,  21,  23  ;  Phil.  ii.  6  ;  Col.  i.  15,  19;  ii. 
9  ;  Heb.  i.  1-3 ;  i  John  ii.  21,  23,  24 ; 
Rev.  iii.  21. 

Fifth,  He  performs  the  works  of  God ; 
(i)  in  creating,  John  i.  3,  10  ;  Eph.  iii. 
9;  Col.  i.  16';  Heb.  i.  io ;  Rev.  iii.  14; 
(2)  in  preserving  and  upholding,  Col.  i. 
17 ;  Heb.  i,  3 ;  (3)  in  forgiving  sins, 
Mark  ii,  5,  10  ;  Luke  vii.  48-50 ;  Acts  v. 
31  ;  (4)  in  imparting  everlasting  life, 
Luke  xxiii.  42,  43  ;  John  v.  25,  40  j  vi. ' 
47  ;  x.  10,  28  ;  xvii.  2  ;  {5)  in  bestowing 
the  Spirit  and  all  spiritual  blessings, 
Luke  xvii.  5  ;  xxiv.  49  ;  John  xiv.  13  ; 
XV.  26  ;  I  Cor.  i.  4-6  j  Eph.  iv.  7  ;  Phil, 
iv.  13 ;  (6)  in  raising  the  dead,  John  v. 
21,  25-29  ;  vi.  40;  xi.  25  ;  Phil.  iii.  21  ; 
I  Thess.  iv.  16  ;  (7)  in  judging  the  world. 
Matt.  vii.  22  ;  xvi.  27  ;  xxv.  31  ;  John 
V.  22,  27  ;  Acts  X.  42  ;  xvii.  31  ;  Rom. 
ii.  16  ;  xiv.  10 ;  2  Cor.  v.  10  ;  2  Tim.  iv. 
I  ;  Rev.  i.  7  ;  xxii.  12. 

Sixth,  He  possesses  the  attributes  and 
perfections  of  God,  for  (i)  He  is  said  to 
be  eternal,  Mic.  v.  2,  compared  with 
Matt.  ii.  6 ;  John  i.  2  ;  viii.  56,  58 ;  xvii. 
5,  24;  Acts  iii.  15  ;  Heb.  i.  11,  12  ;  Rev. 
i.  17;  xxii.  13;    (2)   Omnipresent.  Matt. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


249 


xviii.  20;  xxviii.  20;  John  iii.  13  ;  Eph. 
i.  23 ;  (3)  Omniscient,  Matt,  ix,  4  ;  xii. 
25  ;  Mark  ii.  8  ;  Luke  vi.  8  ;  ix.  47  ;  x. 
22;  John  i.  48;ii.  24,  25  ;xvi.  30;  xxi.  17  ; 
Rev.  ii.  23 ;  (4)  Omnipotent,  Matt,  xxviii. 
18  ;  John  V.  17 ;  x.  18  ;  i  Cor.  i.  24  ;  Col.  i. 
17  ;  ii.  ID  ;  Heb,  vii.  25  ;  Rev.  i.  8  ;  (3) 
Unchangeable,  Heb.  i.  11,12;  vii,  24  ; 
xiii.  8  ;  (6)  Infinitely  wise  and  loving,  i 
Cor.  i.  24  ;  Col.  ii.  3  ;  Eph  iii.  ig  ;  (7) 
Sinless,  Mark  x.  18  ;  John  viii.  29,  46  ; 
xiv.  30  ;  Heb.  vii.  26  ;  i  Pet.  ii.  22  ;  i 
John  iii.  5, 

Seventh,  He  claimed  and  received 
•divine  worship ;  compare  Ex.  xx.  3 ; 
Matt.  iv.  10  ;  Acts  xiv.  14  ;  Rev.  xix. 
10,  with  Matt.  ii.  2,  11  ;  ix.  18 ;  xiv.  33  ; 
XV.  25  J  XX.  20  ;  xxviii.  9  ;  Luke  xxiv. 
52  ;  John  ix.  38  ;  xx.  28  ;  Acts  vii.  59  ; 
Phil,  ii,  10  J  Heb.  i.  6  ;  Rev.  v.  9-14  ;  2 
Cor.  xiii.  14  ;  Rom.  i.  7,  and  the  begin- 
ning of  all  the  Epistles.  If  such  a  being 
is  not  God,  there  is  no  God  ;  but,  bless- 
ed be  His  name  for  ever  and  ever,  the 
believer  is  hanging  his  interests  for  time 
and  for  eternity  upon  the  arm  of  One 
who  is  almighty,  and  who  by  Himself 
purged  our  sins.  Love  can  not  stoop 
lower  than  when  He  descended  to  the 
cross ;  love  can  not  rise  higher  than 
•when  it  lifts  us  to  his  throne.     J.H.  B. 


SEVEN  OFFICES  OF  THE  SPIRIT 

IN  JOHN. 

1.  Quickening,  iii.  5,  6 :  i.  12,13,  32,33. 

2.  Indwelling,  iv,  14  ;  Eph.  iv.  30  ;  i 
Thess.  V.  19. 

3.  Outflowing,  vii.  37-39. 

4.  Comforting,  John  xiv.  16,  17 ;  i 
John  ii.  I  ;  Rom.  viii.  9  ;  i  Cor.  vi.  19  ; 
I  John  ii.  27. 

5.  Teaching,  xiv.  26  ;  Rom.  xii.  3  ;  i 
Cor.  ii.  14 ;  viii.  2  ;  John  vi.  63. 

6.  Reproving,  xvi.  8. 

7.  Predicting,  xvi.  13  ;  Matt.  i.  18  ; 
Matt.  iii.  16;  Acts  X.  38  ;  Luke  iv.  i  ; 
Matt.  xii.  28  ;  Heb.  ix.  14  ;  Rom.  viii. 
ir  ;  Acts  ii.  33,  J.  H.  B. 


THE  SEVEN  BEATITUDES   OF 
REVELATIG.N. 

1.  Blessed  is  he  that  readeth,  and  thev 

that  hear  the  words  of  this  prophecy, 

and  keep  those  things  which  are  written 
therein  :  for  the  time  is  at  hand,  i.  3. 

2.  Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in 
the  Lord  from  henceforth :  Yea,  saith 
the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their 
labours  ; '  and  their  works  do  follow 
them,  xiv.  13. 

3.  Blessed  is  he  that  watcheth,  and 
keepeth  his  garments,  lest  he  walk 
naked,  and  they  see  his  shame,  xvi.  15  ; 
I  Thess.  V.  4  ;  Luke  xii.  36  ;  i  John 
ii.  28.  • 

4.  Blessed  are  they  which  are  called 
unto  the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb, 
xix.  9  ;  Eph.  v.  27. 

5.  Blessed  and  holy  is  he  that  hath 

part  in  the  first  resurrection,  xx.  5  ;  Phil, 
iii.  II. 

6.  Blessed  is  he  that  keepeth  the  say- 
ings of  the  prophecy  of  this  book,  xxii.  7. 

7.  Blessed  are  they  that  do  his  com- 
mandments, [wash  their  robes,  according 
to  the  correct  rendering)  that  they  may 
have  right  to  the  tree  of  life,  and  may 
enter  in  through  the  gates  into  the  city, 
xxiL  14  ;  Rev.  v. 

J.  H.  B. 


SEVEN   TOGETHERS. 

1.  We  are  gathered  together.  Matt, 
xviii.  20  ;  Phil.  iii.  3. 

2.  As  the  result  of  being  gathered  to- 
gether, we  are  united  together.  What 
therefore  God  hath  joined  together,  let 
not  man  put  asunder.  Matt,  xix.  6  ;  Acts 
ii.  44 ;  iv.  23  ;  I  Cor.  xii.  12-26. 

3.  Being  united,  we  are  builded  to- 
gether. In  Christ  all  the  building, 
fitly  framed  together,  groweth  unto  an 
holy  temple  in  the  Lord :  in  whom  ye 
also  are  builded  together  for  an  habita- 
tion of  God  through  the  Spirit,  Eph.  ii. 
21,  22  ;  Zech.  iv.  7, 

4.  As  builded  together,  we  must  be 
found  striving  together.  Only  let  your 
conversation  be  as  becometh  the  gospel 
of  Christ :  that,  whether  I  come  and 
see  you,  or  else  be  absent,   I  may  hear 


2-;.) 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


Dt  your  afiairs,  that  ye  stand  fast  m  one 
spirit,  with  cue  mind,  striving  together 
for  the  faith  of  the  gospel,  Fhih  i.  27  ; 
Heb.  X.  25  ;  Kom.  xii.  4,  5. 

5.  Thus  striving  together,  and  giving 
Evidence  that  we  are  walking  in  fellow- 
ship with  our  Lord,  He  who  is  the  Head 
over  all  things  to  the  Church  makes  all 
things  subserve  our  interests ;  for,  we 
know  that  all  things  work  together  for 
^ood  to  them  that  love  God,  to  them 
who  are  the  called  according  to  his 
purpose,  Rom.  viii.  28  ;  i  Cor.  iii.  21-23. 

6.  For  the  Lord  himself  shall  descend 

from    heaven   with   a  shout,  with  the 

voice  of  the  archangel,  and  with  the 

trump  of  God,  and  the  dead  in  Christ 

shall  rise  first :  then  we  which  are  alive 
0 

and  remain,  shall  be  caught  up  together 

with  them  in  the  clouds,   to  meet  the 

Lord  in  the  air :  and  so  shall  we  ever 

be  with  the  Lord,  i  Thess.  iv.  16,  17. 

7.  As  we  commenced  with  two  or 
three  gathering  together  here  on  earth. 
so  we  conclude  with  another  great  and 
glorious  gathering  in  the  skies,  for  we 
read  of  our  gathering  together  unto 
Him,  2  Thess.  i.  i  '  Rev.  xxi.  4  ;  Rev. 
xxii.  20,  J.  H.  B. 


SEVEN  THINGS  SAID  OF  THE 
BELIEVER'S  SINS. 

1.  They  have  been  laid  on  Christ,  Isa. 
feii.  6  ;  I  Pet.  ii.  24  ;  2  Cor.  v.  21. 

2.  They  have  been  blotted  out,  Isa. 
xliv.  22  ;  Col.  ii.  14  ;  Rev.  iii.  5. 

3.  They  have  been  removed,  Ps.  ciii. 
12  ;  Lev,  xvi.  21.  22. 

4.  They  have  been  forgiven,  Rom.  iv. 
7  ;  Eph.  i.  7  ;    Luke  vii.  48  ;  Col.  ii.  13. 

5.  They  have  been  cast  behind  God's 
back,  Isa.  xxxviii.  17. 

6.  They  are  cast  into  the  depths  of 
the  sea,  Micah  vii.  19. 

7.  They  are  forgotten,  Jer.  xxxi.  34  ; 
Heb.  vii.  12  ;  ix.  17.  J.  H.  B. 


SEVEN  THINGS  THE  BELIEVER 
SHOULD    REMEMBER    ABOUT 
THE  FLESH. 
I.  That  he  is  under  no  obligation  to 

it.     We  are  debtors  not   to  the  flesh. 

Rom.  viii.  12  ;  viii.  8  ;  Gal.  vi.  8  ;  Rom. 

viii.   6,   margin  ;    Rom.  vii.   25  ;   viii.  7, 

margin. 


2.  That  he  must  not  make  it  his 
companion.  Who  walk  not  after  the 
flesh,  Rom.  viii.  4  ;  Eph.  iv.  19  ;  Phil, 
iii.  19  ;  Gen.  xiii.  9. 

3.  That  he  must  not  make  any  allow- 
ance for  it.  Make  not  provision  for  the 
flesh,  Rom.  xiii,  14. 

4.  He  must  not  give  it  an  opportunity" 
to  show  itself.  Use  not  liberty  for  art 
occasion  to  the  flesh,  Gal.  v.  13. 

5.  That  he  must  not  trust  it  under 
any  circumstances.  For  we  have  no 
confidence  in  the  flesh,  Phil.  iii.  .3 

6.  That  he  must  not  expect  any  good 
thing  from  it.  In  my  flesh  dwelleth  no 
good  thing,  Rom.  vii.  18  ;  It  is  sinful, 
Rom.  viii.  3;  Unclean,  Gal.  v.  19;  Filthy, 
2  Cor.  vii.  I  ;  Corrupt,  Gen.  vi.  12  ;  Job 
xiv.  4. 

7.  He  must  not  look  upon  it  as  a  dead 
thing.  And  they  that  are  Christ's 
have  crucified  the  flesh.  Gal.  v.  24 ; 
Rom.  vii.  24. 

May  the  Lord  Jesus  grant  that  we 
may  all  through  the  Spirit  mortify  the 
deeds  of  the  body,  Rom.  viii".  1 3 ;  and 
not  fulfil  the  lust  of  the  flesh,  Gal.  v.  16. 

R.  A.  O. 


SEVEN  THINGS  ABOUT  CHRIST. 

1.  Christ  is  wisdom,  Prov.  viii.  22- 
31  ;  I  Cor.  i,  18-31. 

2.  Christ  is  light,  Luke  i.  76-79 ;  Joho. 
i.  4  ;  ix.  5  ;  2  Cor.  iv.  6. 

3.  Christ  is  health,  Prov.  xiii.  17  ;; 
Jer.  XXX.  17  Matt.  viii.  17  ;  Luke  iv. 
18,  19.  Let  sin-sick  souls  know  upon 
the  sure  testimony  of  the  word  that  the 
power  of  the  Lord  is  present  to  heal 
them,  and  straightway  sing  with  joy, 

The  great  Physician  now  is  near, 

The  sympathizing  .Jesus : 
He  speaks,  the  drooping  heart  to  cheer, 

O  hear  the  voice  of  Jesus. 

4.  Christ  is  the  antidote  to  the  deadly 
poison  of  sin.  Num.  xxi.  8  ;  John  iii.  14; 

Rom.  iii.  24. 

5.  Christ  is  life,  John  xiv.  6 ;  Rom. 
vi.  23  ;  I  John  v.  ii,  12  ;  Col.  iii.  4  :. 
John  xiv.  19. 

6.  Christ  is  heaven,  John  iii.  13  ;  xiv. 
3  ;  Rev.  vii.  17;  Phil.  iii.  20. 

7.  Christ  is  ours.  Happy  is  the  be- 
liever who  can  say  in  simple  faith... 
"  My  beloved  is  mine,  and  I  am  his," 
Song  of  Sol.  ii.  16;  2  Cor.  vi.  10;  i  Cor. 
iii.  21-23  ;  Rom.  viii.  16,  ij.      J.  H.  B. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


SEVEN  "  ARES  "  IN  I  COR.  VI. 

1 .  Ye  are  washed.  Trace  throughout 
the  Bible  the  two  washings,  with  blood 
and  with  water  as  the  symbul  of  the 
word  of  God.  Rev.  i.  5  ;  vii.  14  ;  i  John 
i.  7;  Lev.  xvii.  11  ;  Matt.  xxvi.  28; 
Rom.  iii.  20-26  |  v.  9  ;  Eph.  i.  7  ;  Col. 
i.  20-22;  Heb.  ix.  11-22  ;  i  Pet.  i.  18, 
19  ;    Ex.  xxix.  4  ;    John  xiii.  i-io  ;    xv. 

3  ;  xix.  34,  35  ;  Eph.  v.  26 ;  Heb.  x.  19- 
22 ;  I  John  v.  6,  8. 

2.  Ye  are  sanctified.  Consider  the 
standing  of  the  believer  as  already- 
sanctified  in  the  Father's  view,  and  then 
as  manifesting  his  position  before  God 
in  a  life  of  practical  and  progressive 
holiness,  observing  how  the  latter  is 
always  represented  as  springing  from 
the  former,  i  Cor.  i,  2,  30  ;  Acts  xx.  32  ; 
xxvi.  18  ;  Heb.  ii.  11  ;  x.  10,  14;  xiii. 
12  ;  I  Pet.  i.  14-16  ;  Lev.  xi.44,  45  :  xx. 
24-26 ;  John  xvii.  19  ;  i  Cor.  iii.  17  ; 
Col.  iii.  12  ;  Heb.  iii.  i  ;  Jude  20. 

3.  Ye  are  justified.  Notice  that  it 
means  just  the  opposite  of  the  word 
(ondemn,  Deut.  xxv.  i  ;  Jobix.  20  ;  Isa. 
I.  8,  9  ;  Prov.  xvii.  15  ;  Rom.  viii.  33, 
34  ;    Job  xxv.  4  ;    Acts  xiii.  39  ;    Rom. 

iii.  20-30.;  iv.  5  ;  v.  i,  9  ;  Gal.  ii.  16  |  v. 

4  ;  James  ii.  17-26. 

4.  Know  ye  not  that  your  bodies  are 

the  members  of  Christ?    Here  we  have 

the  present  tense,  denoting  continuous 

action,  i  Cor.  xii.  27  ;  Rom.  xii.  5  ;  Eph. 
i-  22,  23  ;  V.  30  ;    Col.  i.  18,  24:;  iii.  1-5. 

5.  Ye  are  not  your  own.  Here  again 
is  the  present  tense,  showing  our  lasting 
obligation  and  privilege,  Rom  ^iv.  7,  8  ; 
I  Cor.  X.  31  ;  xii.  7  ;  2  Cor.  v.  ix  \  Gal. 
vi.  14  ;  Phil.  i.  21  ;  2  Tim.  ii.  4  ;  i  Pet. 
hr.  10. 

6.  Ye  are  bought  with  a  price.  The 
demanded  price  of  our  redemption  was 
paid  and  accepted.  Acts  xx.  28  ;  Gal.  i. 
4  ;  ii.  20  ;  Eph.  ii.  13  ;  Col.  i.  12-14  J 
Tit.  ii.  14  ;  Heb.  ix.  26-28 ;  Rev.  v.  9. 

7.  Therefore  glorify  God  in  your  body, 
and  in  your  spirit,  which  are  God's. 
The  best  authorities  omit  the  last  clause, 
but  the  same  truth  is  abundantly  taught 
elsewhere,  Rom.  xi.  36  ;  2  Cor.  v;  5,  18  ; 
Eph.  ii.  8-10  :  Tit.  iii.  5  ;  Rev.  iv.  11. 

J.  H.  B. 


SEVEN  ALLUSIONS  TO 
■■  ONE  THING.' 

1.  Death,  Ecc.  iii.  ig.  It  is  not  cer- 
tain that  believers  now  on  the  earth 
shall  die,  i  Thess.  iv.  17  ;  i  Cor.  xv.  51. 
But,  unbelievers,  however  exalted  their 
social  station,  however  remarkable  their 
scientific  attainments,  shall  surely  die 
even  as  the  beasts  ;  and  if  they  die  in. 
unbelief,  they  will  mourn  with  unavail- 
ing regret  through  eternity  that  they 
had  not  ceased  to  exist,  like  beasts,  in 
the  dark  hour  of  death.  Alas  !  they  are 
dead  already,  John  v.  40  |  2  Cor.  v.  14  r 
Eph.  ii.  I  ;  i  Tim.  v.  6  ;  i  John  v.  12. 

2.  Salvation,  Markx.  21.  This  salva- 
tion by  grace  every  dying  son  and 
daughter  of  Adam's  race  must  have,  or 
perish  forever.  The  best  can  do  with 
nothing  less  ;  the  worst  need  nothing, 
more,  John  iii.  7-18  ;  Acts  iv.  12  ;  x.  43  ; 
xiii.  39  ;  xvi.  31  ;  Rom.  x.  9  ;  Eph.  i.  7  ; 
Col.  i.  12-14 ;  I  Pet.  i.  19  ;  i  John  i.  7. 

3.  Assurance.  One  thing  I  know»^ 
that,  whereas  I  was  blind,  now  I  see,. 
John  ix.  25  ;  i.  II,  12  ;  v.  24  ;  Matt.  xi. 
28  ;  Isa.  xlv.  22  ;  Lev.  xvi.  21  ;  Heb.  x. 
19-22  ;  Eph.  ii.  i-io  ;  i  John  v.  13. 

4.  Communion.  One  thing  have  I 
desired  of  the  Lord,  that  will  I  seek 
after  ;  that  I  may  dwell  in  the  house  of 
the  Lord  all  the  days  of  my  life,  to 
behold  the  beauty  of  the  Lord,  and  to- 
enquire  in  his  temple,  Psa.  xxvii.  4.  It 
is  well  to  remember  that  communion 
follows  assurance,  as  assurance  foUows 
salvation,  and  that  the  word  fellmvship 
is  the  same  as  the  word  partnership,  i 
John  i.  3  ;  Luke  v.  7  ;  Ex.  xxv.  22-30  ; 
Rom,  viii.  17;  i  Cor.  iii.  21-23  ;  x.  16- 
21 :  2  Cor.  vi.  14-18. 

J  Devotedness.  But  one  thing  is 
needful :  and  Mary  hath  chosen  the 
good  part,  which  shall  not  be  taken  away 
from  her,  Luke  x.  42  ;  Matt.  xx.  28. 
Nothing  pleases  Him  so  much  as  to  see 
His  people  forgetful  of  everything  but 
His  presence  and  suj6&ciency  for  all  their 
wants,    and   nothing   will    throw  such 


2^2 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


•light  upon  our  path  as  to  keep  the  eye 
^exclusively  fixed  upon  Him,  Luke  xi. 
34"36  ;  John  viii.  12  ;  xv.  7  ;  2  Cor.  v. 
14,  15  ;  vi.  ID  ;  Gal.  i.  10 ;  Phil.  i.  21  ; 
Rev.  xiv.  4. 

6.  Progress.  This  one  thing  I  do, 
forgetting  those  things  which  are  behind, 
and  reaching  forth  unto  those  things 
which  are  before,  I  press  toward  the 
mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of 
God  in  Christ  Jesus,  Phil.  iii.  13,  14. 
The  apostle  did  not  feel  the  slightest 
■anxiety    about    his   salvation,    but    he 

wanted  the  prize ;  and  hence  he  con- 
tinually pressed  forward  that  he  might 
lay  hold  of  that  for  which  also  he  was 
laid  hold  of  by  Christ  Jesus,  i  Cor.  iii. 
12-15  ;  ix.  24-26  ;  Gal.  vi.  7;  2  Tim.  iv. 
6-8  ;  James  i.  12  ;  2  Pet.  iii.  18  ;  Rev. 
iii.  II. 

7.  The  coming  of  the  Lord.  Beloved, 
be  not  ignorant  of  this  one  thing,  that 
©ne  day  is  with  the  Lord  as  a  thousand 
years,  and  a  thousand  years  as  one  day, 
2  Pet.  iii.  8  ;  Matt.  xxiv.  36-51  ;  Mark 
xiii-  33-37  ;  Luke  xii.  35-40 ;  xvii.  26-37; 
xxi.  34-36  J  John  xiv.  3  ;  Acts  i.  11  ; 
Rev.  vii.  7,  12,  20.  J.  H.  B. 

SEVEN    REASONS  FOR   COMING 
TO  THE  LORD'S  SUPPER. 

1.  The  participation  of  all  Christians 
is  an  act  of  obedience.  Matt.  xxvi.  26, 

27  ;  Mark  xiv.  22  ;  i  Cor.  xi.  24. 

2.  It  is  an  act  of  remembrance,  Luke 
xxii.  19  ;  I  Cor.  xi.  24,  25, 

3.  It  is  an  act  of  testimony  to  His 
■death,  i  Cor.  xi.  26  ;  v.  7. 

4.  It  is  an  act  of  confession  that  sal= 
vation  is  through  His  blood,  Matt.  xxvi. 

28  ;  Luke  xii.  8,  9 ;  Rom.  x.  9,  ro ; 
Rev.  iii.  5. 

5.  It  is  an  act  of  fellowship,  i  Cor.  x. 
16,  17. 

6.  It  is  an  act  of  praise  and  thanks- 
giving, Luke  xxii.  19;  i  Cor.  x.  16;  xi.  24. 

7.  It  is  an  act  silently  but  powerfully 
proclaiming  His  second  coming,  i  Cor. 
xi.26.  J.  H.B. 


SEVEN  THINGS  ABOUT  SIN. 

I.  Sin  is  folly,  Psa.  xlix.  11-13;  Ixxxv. 
8  ;  Prov.  xiv.  9  ;  xxviii.  26  ;  Luke  xii. 
20  :  Eph.  V.  15. 


2.  Sin  is  darkness,  Prov.  iv.  19  ;  Luke 
i«  79  ;  John  i.  5  j  iii.  18  ;  2  Cor.  iv.  3, 
X  •  Col.  i.  12,  13. 

3.  Sin  is  sickness,  Isa.  i.  5,  6  ;  Matt, 
ix.  12. 

4.  Sin  is  poison,  Num.  xxi.  6 ;  Psa. 
Iviii.  3,  4  ;  Rom.  iii.  10-13. 

5.  Sin  is  death,  Rom.  v.  12 ;  vi.  23  ; 
vii.  5  ;  James  i.  15. 

6.  Sin  is  hell,  Luke  xii.  4,  5  ;  xvi.  22, 
23  ;  2  Pet.  ii.  1-9. 

7.  Sin  was  ours  who  are  now  saved. 
Psa.  li.  5  ;  Ecc.  vii.  20  ;  Rom.  iii..  22, 
23  ;  Eph.  ii.  1.3.  J.  H.  B. 


THE     SEVEN    WEEPINGS     OF 
JOSEPH  AND  ISRAEL. 

Joseph  is  regarded  as  a  type  of  Christ. 

1.  He  turned  from  his  brethren  and 
wept,  and  took  from  them  Simeon,  and 
bound  him.     Genesis  xlii.  24. 

2.  At  their  second  visit,  so  moved  was 
he  at  the  sight  of  Benjamin  he  sought 
where  to  weep,  and  he  entered  into  his 
chamber  and  wept  there;    Gen.  xliii.  30. 

3.  When  he  made  himself  known 
to  his  brethren  he  wept  aloud,  or,  he 
gave  forth  his  voice  in  weeping.  (Margin.) 
Genesis  xiv.  2. 

4.  Having  comforted  his  brethren,  he 
wept  on  Benjamin's  neck  ;  moreover  ha 
kissed  all  his  brethren,  and  wept  upon 
them.     Genesis  xiv.  14,  15. 

5.  At  Goshen,  where  he  went  to  meet 
his  father,  he  fell  on  his  neck,  and  wept 
on  his  neck  a  good  while.     Gen.  xivi.  29. 

6.  When  Jacob  died,  Joseph  fell  upon 
his  father's  face  and  wept  upon  him  and 
kissed  him.     Genesis  1.  i. 

7 .  After  the  death  and  burial  of  Jacob - 
when,  through  fear  that  Joseph  would 
punish  them  for  all  the  wrong  they  had 
done  him,  they  besought  his  forgiveness, 
he  wept  when  they  spake  to  him.  Genesis 
1.17. 

In  further  illustration  that  weeping 
may  symbolically  represent  the  sin  and 
danger  of  disobedience  to   God  and  its 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


253^ 


punishment,  we  find,  in  the  history  of 
Israel,  that  on  seven  different  occasions 
they  manifested  their  sorrow  in  tears. 

1 .  Loathing  the  manna,  they  wept  and, 
said.  Who  shall  give  us  flesh  to  eat  ? 
Num.  xi.  5. 

2.  Refusing  to  believe  the  good  report 
of  Caleb  and  Joshua .  and  go  up  and 
possess  the  land,  they  cried,  and  all  the 
people  wept,  and  murmured,  and  said. 
Would  God  we  had  died  in  this  wilder- 
ness.    Num.  xiv.  I,  2. 

3.  When  God  had  commanded  them 
not  to  go  to  battle  against  the  Amorites, 
but  they  rebelled  and  were  defeated, 
they  returned  and  wept  before  the  Lord. 
Deut.  i.  43-45. 

4.  They  wept  for  Moses  at  his  death 
thirty  days.     Deut.  rxxiv.  8. 

5.  When  rebuked  at  Bochim  by  an 
angel,  for  disobedience  to  God,  they  lifted 
up  their  voice  and  wept.     Judges  ii.  4., 

6.  When    defeated    in    battle    with 

Benjamin,  they  wept  before  the  Lord 

until  even,  and  asked  counsel  of  the 
Lord.     Judges  xx,  23. 

7.  Having  almost  destroyed  the 
Benjamite.s,  they  came  to  the  house  of 
G-^d  and  abode  there  till  even  before 
God,  and  lifted  up  their  voices  and  wept 
sore.     Judges  xxi.  2. 


Behold,  what  manner  of  love  thf 
Father  hath  bestowed  upon  us,  that  we 
should  be  called  the  sons  of  God.  r 
John  iii.  i, 

Behold,    I    come    quickly ;    and   My 
reward   is  with  Me,  to  give  every  man- 
according  as  his  work  shall  be.     Rev 
xxii.  12. 


THE  'BEHOLDS'  OF  GOD'S  WORD. 

Behold,  I  lay  in  Zion  for  a  foundation 
i  stone,  a  tried  stone,  a  precious  comer 
jtone,  a  sure  foundation.     Isa.  xxviii.  16. 

Behold  the  lamb  of  God,  which  taketh 
iway  the  sin  of  the  world.      John  i.  29. 

Behold,  now  is  the  accepted  time  ; 
Dehold,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation. 
2  Cor.  vi.  2. 

Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door,  and 
Knock  :  if  any  man  hear  My  voice,  and 
Dpenthe  door,  I  will  come  in  to  him, 
ind  will  sup  with  him,  and  He  with  Me. 
Rev.  iii.  20. 

Behold,  God  is  my  salvation  ;  I  will 
trust,  and  not  be  afraid :  for  the  Lord 
fehovah  is  my  strength  and  my  song  ; 
He  also  is  become  my  salvation.  Isaiah 
iii.  2. 


FIVE  PLACES. 
I.  A  barren  place,  the  wilderness.  3;. 
Testing  places,  Marah  and  Peniel.  3. 
Pleasant  places,  Psa.  xvi..  16.  4.  Quiet 
resting  places,  Isa.  xxxii.  18.  5.  For- 
gotten resting  places,  Jer.  1.  6.   T.  W.  H. 


FIVE  "HEAVENLIES"  IN  EPH 


Heavenly  places. 
Heavenly  places. 
Heavenly  places. 
Heavenly  places. 
Heavenly  places. 


Chap.  i.  3. 
Chap,  i.  20. 
Chap.  ii.  6. 
Chap.  iii.  10. 
Chap,  vi,  12. 


THE  BELIEVER  WAITS   FOR 

THREE  THINGS. 
Glory  to  be  revealed.     Rom.  viii,  18, 
19,  23. 

Hope  of  righteousness.     Gal.  v.  5. 
The  Son  from  Heaven,     i  Thes.  i.  10,, 


THREE  STEPS  TO  THE  LOST. 

Neglecting.  Heb.  ii.  3. 
Refusing.  Heb.  xii.  25. 
Despising.     Heb.  x.  28. 


THREE  WARFARES. 
Of  the  flesh.     Rom.  viii.  12,  13, 
Of  the  world,     i  John.  ii.  15. 
Of  the  devil.     Eph.  vi.  11-16. 


EIGHT  "WITHOUTS." 
Heb.  ix.  22  ;  Heb.  xii.  14  ;  Jas.  ii.  26 j- 
John  XV.  5  ;  Heb.    x.  16  ;  Heb.  xii.  8  ; 
I  Cor.  xiii.   1-3  ;  Heb.  xiii.  13. 


FOUR    FAITHFUL   SAYINGS. 
I  Tim.  i.  15  ;  iv,  8,  9  ;  2  Tim.ii.  11-13;; 
Titus  iii.  8. 


FOUR  PRECIOUS  BLESSEDS. 
The  walk.     Psalm  i.  i. 
Sin  covered.     Psalm  xxxii.  i. 
Chosen.     Psalm  Ixv.  4. 
Watching.     Prov.  viii.  34. 


254 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS 


SIX   CITIES   OF   REFUGE. 
Joshua  XX.  7,  8. 
Kedish. — Holy.     2  Cor.  v.  21, 
Shechem. — Shoulder,     Luke  xv.  5. 
Hebron, — Friendship.     Prov,xviii.24. 
Bezer. — Stronghold.     Psalm  xxxi.  3. 
Ramoth. — High  place.     Hab.  iii.  19. 
Golan. — Happy.     Prov.  xvi.  20. 


SIX     PRAYERS     ANSWERED     BY 

GOD  IN  THE  GIFT  OF  HIS  SON. 

Lead  me  in  thy  truth.     Psalm  xxv.  5. 

Lead  me  in  a  plain  path.  Psalm 
xxvii.  II. 

Lead  me  to  the  rock,  &c.  Psalm 
Ixi.  2. 

Lead  me  iii  the  way  everlasting. 
Psalm  cxxxix.  24. 

Lead  me  into  the  land  of  uprightness. 
Psalm  cxliii.  10. 

For  thy  name's  sake  lead  and  guide 
me.     Psalm  xxxi.  3. 

Answer. — I  have  given  Him  for  a 
leader  . . . ,  to  the  people.     Isaiah  Iv.  4. 


THE   BETTERS   OF  HEBREWS. 

The  Son  better  than  angels — Chap.  i. 
4.  Christ  better  than  Melchisedec. — 
'Chap,  vii,  7,  Better  hope. — Chap,  vii 
jg.  Better  testament. — Chap.  vii.  22. 
Better  covenant. — Chap.  viii.  6.  Better 
promises. — Chap.  viii.  6.  Better  sacri- 
fice.— Chap.  ix.  23.  Better  substance.- 
Chap.  X.  34.  Better  country'. — Chap, 
xi.  16,  Better  resurrection. — Chap.  xi. 
35.  Better  thing  for  us. — Chap.  xi.  40. 
The  blood  of  Christ  better  than  that  of 
Abel. — Chap.  xii.  24. 


THE  FIFTEEN   SEVENS  IN  THE 
REVELATION. 
.Seven  churches.     Chap.  i.  4. 
.Seven  spirits.     Chap.  i.  4. 
Seven  candlesticks.     Chap.  i.  12. 
Seven  stars.     Chap.  i.  16. 
.Seven  lamps.     Chap.  iv.  5. 
Seven  seals.     Chap,  v.  i. 
Seven  trumpets.     Chap.  viii.  2. 
Seven  thunders.     Chap.  x.  3. 
Seven  heads.     Chap,  xii,  3. 
Seven  crowns.     Chap.  xii.  3. 
Seven  plagues.     Chap.  xv.  8, 
Seven  vials.     Chap.  xv.  7. 
Seven  angels.     Chap.  xv.  7. 
Seven  mountains.     Chap.  xvii.  9. 
S^ven  kings.     Chap.  xvii.  10. 


THE    SIX    WONDERS    IN    REV- 
ELATION. 

Great  wonder  in  heaven.     Chap. xii,  i. 

Great  wonder  in  heaven.     Chap. xii. 3. 

John  wondered  with  admiration. 
Chap,  xvii,  6. 

All  the  world  wondered.  Chap,  xiii.3. 

They  that  dwell  on  the  earth  shall 
wonder.     Chap.  xvii.  8. 

Great  wonders.     Chap,  xiii,  13. 


EIGHT  LOVING  HINTS. 

1.  Come  by  faith    to    the  blood  of 

Christ,  yea,  to  Christ  himself,  that  your 

sins  may  be  pardoned.     Lev.  xvii.  11  ; 
Heb.  ix.  14,  22  ;  Eph.  i.  7. 

2.  Seek  by  prayer  the  help  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.     Luke  xi,  13  ;  Rom.viii.26. 

3.  Try  to  recollect  continually  that 
God  is  always  present,  knowing  every 
thought  you  think,  every  word  you  speak, 
and  observing  everything  you  do.  Prov. 
XV.  3  ;  Psalm  cxxxix.  2  ;  Ezek,  xi.  5  ; 
Heb,  iv.  13. 

4.  Live  upon  Christ  as  the  life-giving 

root  of  all  true  holiness.     John   vi,  15  ; 
Col.  ii,  3. 

5.  Before  you  speak,  ask  these  three 
questions  : — Is  what  I  am  going  to  say 
true  ?  Is  it  useful  ?  Is  it  kind  ? 
Psalm  cxx,  2 ;  cxli.  3 ;  Prov.  xv.  i  ; 
Eph.  iv. 

6.  Pray  for  a  calm  and  thoughtful 
state  of  mind,  trusting  always  in  the 
Lord,  for  you  know  not  what  a  day  may 
bring  forth.  Job  xxii.  21  ;  Isaiah  xxvi. 
3  ;  Hag,  i.  5  ;  Matt.  xi.  29. 

7.  Remember,  if  religion  has  done 
nothing  for  our  tempers,  it  has  done 
little  for  our  souls  ;  therefore,  be  kind, 
merciful.cheerful,  meek, and  affectionate. 
Rom,  xiii.  10  ;  James  i.26  ;  i  Peter  iii. 8. 

8.  Work,  while  it  is  ca,lled  to-day,  for 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  men. 
John  ix,  4  ;  i  Cor.  x.  31  ;  Gal,  vi.  10. 

THREE  ALSOS. 

Where  I  am,  there  ye  may  be  also. 

John  xiv,  3.     The  same  place. 

He  that  believeth  on  Me,  the  works 
that  I  do  shall  he  do  also.  The  same 
occupation. 

Because  I  live,  ye  shall  life  also.  John 
xiv.  9,     The  same  life. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


255 


TWELVE  GOLDEN    RULES    FOR 
CHRISTIAN    FAMILIES. 

From  the  Book  of  Books. 

l>e    not    conformed    to    this    world. 
Kvm.  xii.  2. 

.0  ye  followers  of  God,  as  dear  chil- 
^        1.      Eph.  V.  I. 

3e  ye  sober,  and  watch  unto  prayer. 
i     'eter  iv.  7. 

lie  kindly  affectioned  one  to  another. 

om.  xii.  10. 

3e  content  with   such  things  as  ye 
ave.     Heb.  xiii.  5. 

Be  ye  doers  of  the  Word,   and  not 
earers  only.    James  i.  22. 

Be  ye  of  one  mind,  live  in  peace.     2 
Jor.  xiii.  11. 

Be  patient  toward  all  men.     i  Thess. 
'/.  14. 

Be  clothed  with  humility,    i  Peter  v  .5 . 

Be  pitiful,  be  courteous,     i  Peter  iii.  8. 

Be    glad  in  the   Lord,   and  rejoice. 
C^salm  xxxii.  11. 

Be  ye  ready  for  the  Son  of  Man  cometh. 
.Luke  xii.  40. 


HE  THREE  FULL  ASSURANCES 
OF  HOLY  SCRIPTURE. 

1.  Full  assurance  of  faith.  Heb .x. 22. 

2.  Full  assurance  of  understanding, 
ol.  ii.  2 

3.  Full  assurance  of  hope.  Heb.vi.ii. 


NINE   HOLD-FASTS. 
I  Thess.  V.  21,  22  ;  Tim.  i.  13 


V 

iii.  6 ;  Heb.  iv 
.25  ;  Rev.  iii.  3 


i.  13  ;  Heb. 

14  ;  Heb.  x.  23  ;  Rev.ii. 
Rev.  iii.  II  ;  Job  xxvii.6. 


THE  WHOSOEVERS 
Joel  ii.  32  ;  Rom.  x.  13  ;  John  iii.  15  ; 
John  iii.  16;    Rom.  x.  11 
John  xii.  46  ;  Matt.  x.  32 
Acts  X.  ii3  ;  Rev.  :ixii.  17, 


3.  A  sure  reward. — And  whatsoevei 
ye  shall  ask  in  My  name  that  will  1  do, 
that  the  Father  may  be  glorified  in  the 
Son.    John  xiv.  13. 


FOUR  BLESSED  FACTS. 

God  working  for  us.     i  Sam.  xiv.  6 
John  xvii.  4. 

God  working  in  us. 
xiii.  21. 

God  working  by  us. 

God  working  with  us 


Phil.  ii.  13;  Hfcb. 

2  Cor.  V.  20. 
Mark  xvi.  20. 


THE  FOUR  SUPPERS. 
The  supper  of  salvation.    Luke  xiv.  16. 
The  supper  of  communion,     i  Cor. 
xi.  25. 

The  supper  of  joy.     Rev.  xix.  9. 
The  supper  of  judgment.    Rev.xix.17. 


I  John  v.  I  ; 
I  John  iv,  15; 


THREE  THINGS    CHRIST  GIVES 
US    IN    PRAYER. 

1.  Liberty. — To  enter  into  the  holiest 
by  the  blood  of  Jesus.     Heb.  x.  19. 

2.  Ability. — For  we  know  not  what 
we  should  pray  for  as  we  ought,  but  the 
Spirit  maketh  intercession  for  us  with 
groanings  which  cannot  be  uttered. 
'Kom.  viii.  26- 


FOUR    HORSES. 
To  conquer.     Rev.  vi.  2. 
To  take  peace.     Rev.  vi.  4. 
Justice.     Rev.  vi.  5. 
Death.     Rev.  vi.  8. 


LOVE.— WORLD.— BELIEVE.— 
LIFE. 

Four  words  which  characterise  John'* 
gospel,  and  all  four  in  John  iii.  16,  In 
the  four  gospels  they  occur  thus  : 

Life  in  Matt,  seven  times  ;  Mark  foui 
times  :  Luke  six  times  ;  John  thirty-six 
times. 

Love  in  Matt,  twelve  times  j 
five  times ;  Luke  fifteen  times ; 
fifty-six  times. 

World  in  Matt,  nine  times ; 
three  times  ;  Luke  three  times  j 
seventy-nine  times. 

Believe,  in  Matt,  eleven  times  \ 
fifteen  times ;  Luke  eight  times 
ninety-nine  times. 


Mark 
John 

Mark 
John 

Mark 
John 


HITHERTO. 

Forgiven.     Num.  xiv.  19. 
Blessed.     Josh,  xvii,  14. 
Helped,     i  Sam.  vii.  12. 


(Marg.) 


HENCEFORTH. 

Henceforth  walk  not  as  other  Gent.lcs 
walk.     Eph.  iv.  17. 

Henceforth  we  should  not  serve  s:n. 
Rom.  vi.  6. 

That  they.. should  not  henceforth 
live  unto  themselves,  but  unto  Him.  2 
Cor.  V.  15. 

Henceforth  be  no  more  children. 
Eph.  iv.  14. 


Z5^ 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS 


Henceforth  I  call  you  not  servants. . 
but.  .friends.    John  xv.  15. 

The  Lord  is  round  about  His  people 
from  henceforth.     Ps.  cxxv.  2. 

Hope  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth. 
Ps.  cxxxi.  3. 

My  words . .  shall  not  depart  out  of 
thy  mouth. . from  henceforth.  Is.  lix.  21. 

Henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a 
crown  of  righteousness.     2  Tim.  iv.  8, 


HENCEFORTH. 

Eph.  IV.  17  ;  Micah  iv.  7  ;  Ps.  cxxxi. 
3  ;  Rom.  vi.  6 ;  John  xv.  15  ;  Is.  lix.  21  ; 
2  Cor.  V.  15  ;  Ps,  cxxv.  2  ;  2  Tim.  iv.  8  ; 
Is.  ix.  7 ;  Is.  lii.  i  ;  Matt,  xxiii.  39 ; 
Luke  V.  10 ;  Acts  xviii.  6 ;  Rev.  xiv.  13. 

HEAVEN. 

Bible  representations  of  Heaven  as 
a  Kingdom.  Matt,  xviii.  l^ :  2  Peter 
i.  II. 

As  a  City.     Rev.  xxii.  2-5  ;  xxi.  21-26. 

As  a  Home.     John  xiv.  2  ;  Eph.  iii.  15. 

As  a  Rest.     Heb.  iv.  9  ;  Rev.  xiv.  13. 

As  /an  Inheritance.  Col.  i.  12 ;  i 
Peter  i.  3-5. 


GLORIOUS  STATE  OF  HEAVEN'S 
REDEEMED. 

Bodily  perfection,  i  John  iii.  24 ;  Phil, 
iii.  21. 

Intellectual  perfection,  i  Cor.  xiii. 
12  ;  Rev.  vii.  14. 

Happiness  of  Heaven.  Rev.  vii.  5; 
xvi.  17;  Ps.  xvi.  II. 

Being  with  Jesus.  John  xiv.  3  ;  xvii. 
24  ;  Col.  iii.  4. 

Qualification  for  Heaven.  John  xiv. 
2  ;  Heb.  xii.  14 ;  Rev.  xxi.  27 ;  xxii.  14. 
Rev.  J.  Potts. 

HOW  TO  USE  THE  BIBLE. 

Having  studied  the  Bible,  it  is  im- 
portant that  we  know  how  to  use  it,  and 
nowhere  is  this  knowledge  so  essential 
as  in  our  personal  work  for  Christ.  In 
this  personal  work  we  can  divide  those 
we  meet  into  classes.  They  are  :  First, 
the  professing  Christian  who  has  no 
liberty,  and  no  assurance,  but  is  in 
"  Doubting  castle."  The  whole  of  John's 
first  epistle  was  written  for  such.  Use 
I  John  V.  13 ;  iii.  2,  14,  and  24. 

The  second  class  are  backsliders. 
Use  Jeremiah  ii.  5,  13,  19,  27,  and  32  ; 


iii.  12,  13,  14,  and  22,  Rosea  xiv.  1,  l*. 
and  4 ;  examples  of  backsliders  reclaim- 
ed, David,  Peter,  Thomas  and  all  the 
disciples. 

The  third  class  are  those  not  deeply 
convicted  of  sin.  Use  Romans  iii.  10, 
12,  and  23;  Isaiah  i.  5  and  6;  i  John* 
i.  10  ;  Isaiah  liii.  6. 

Avoid  speaking  false  peace.  Don't 
tell  a  man  he  is  converted.  Let  God 
tell  him  that.     See  Jeremiah  vi.  14. 

The  fourth  class  think  themselves  tooi 
great  sinners.  They  are  under  very 
deep  conviction.  Use  Isaiah  i.  18  ;  liii^ 
4  and  .5  ;  i  Peter  ii.  24  ;  Isaiah  xliii.  25  ; 
xliv.  22  ;  Romans  v.  6. 

The  fifth  class  don't  know  how  to 
come  to  Christ.  'They  must  receive  a 
person,  not  a  creed.  John  i.  12.  They 
must  believe.  John  iii.  15,  16, 18,  and  36  ;. 
v.  24 ;  vi.  40  and  47.  They  must  trust. 
Isaiah  xxvi.  3  ;  Psalms  xxxiv.  8,  They 
must  take,  a  gift.  Revelation  xxii.  17; 
Psalms  cxvi.  13  ;  Romans  vi.  23.  They 
must  come.     John  vi.  37  ;  Isaiah  Iv.  i. 

The  new  birth.  John  iii.  7;  i  John 
V.  I  and  4. 

The  sixth  class  don't  feel  that  they  are 
saved.  Nowhere  in  the  Bible  is  feeling 
coupled  with  salvation. 

The  seventh  class  go  away  trusting, 
and  come  back  doubting.  They  have 
neglected  to  confess  Christ.  Use  Romana 
X.  9  and  10  ;  Matthew  x.32. 

The  eighth  class  are  afraid  they  will' 
fall.  Use  Jude  24 ;  Isaiah  xli.  ic 
and  13  ;  2  Timothy  i.  12  ;  Romans  viii^ 
35  and  39  ;  Colossians  iii.  3  and  4. 

The  ninth  class  say  they  can't  be- 
lieve.    Use  John  vii.  17. 

The  tenth  class  say  they  will  try  tc 
be  saved.     Use  Romans  iv.  5. 

Why  people  are  unsaved.     John  v.  40. 

Who  are  invited  ?  Luke  xix.  10 ; 
Matt.  ix.  12  ;  Luke  v.  32. 

The  time  to  be  saved.  See  Isaiah  lv> 
6 ;  2  Corinthians  vi.  2 ;   Hebrews  iii.  7;. 

The  danger  of  delay.  See  Prov.  i. 
24,  28. 


NOTES    FOR    BIBLE    READINGS. 


257 


Warnings.  See  Psalm  ix.  17;  2 
Peter  ii.  9. 

Contrasts  in  conversions.  There  are 
no  two  alike.  Matthew,  Nicodemus, 
the  woman  at  the  well,  the  thief  on  the 
cross,  Lydia,  the  Jailor,  the  Eunuch,  Paul, 
the  Centurion.  Use  the  great  invitations 
Revelation  xxii.  17;  Matthew  xi.  28; 
Isaiah  Iv,  i.  D.  L.  Moody. 


FALLING  LEAVES. 

If  God  lays  in  proportionate  grace,  it 
matters  not  what  suffering  He  lays  on. 
2  Cor.  xii.  9. 

There  is  nothing  real  about  the  world 
but  its  vanity.     Job  vii.  3. 

Full  pardon  and  full  joy  may  well 
be  expected  from  the  Saviour ;  for  in 
Christ  all  fulness  dwells.     Col.  i,  19. 

It  is  vain  to    expect  calm  spiritual 


peace  apart  from  cle?  *  scriptural  views. 

John  xvii.  17. 

Blessed  is  he  that  M-ould  rather  grievo 
his  dearest  earthly  friend  than  grieve 
the  Spirit.     Eph.  iv.  30. 

How  many  would  rather  have  their 
praises  sounded  by  men,  than  have 
their  souls  saved  by  God  !  Matt.  vi.  2. 

It  is  not  to  the  mere  teaching  of  a 
child,  but  to  the  training  God  gives  the 
promise.     Prov.  xxii.  6. 

A  sure  mark  of  a  tender  conscience  is 
a  readiness  to  suffer  rather  than  to  sin. 
Heb.  xi.  25. 

Many  wish  to   seem  right,    but   the 

Christian     wishes  to  be  right.     Paalm 
xix.  12,  13. 

We  may  be  administrators,  but  we 

are  not  proprietors  of    the  things  we 

possess.     Psalm  xxiv.  i. 


258 


CONTENTS. 


CONTENTS. 


Assurances 93 

Assurances — Three   full 255 

Assurance  of  faith 193 

Assurance  of  the  world 203 

Adoption 98,  103,  206 

Against  Christ — for  Christ   94,  95 

All  are  sinners 116 

Able 136 

All  things  of  the  Bible 161 

All  things  in  Christ l6i 

All  mine  are  Thine,  and  Thine  are 

mine 187 

All.     Psalm  cxlv 161 

All 161,  201 

Abiding 171 

Association  with  Christ 186 

Admonitions  hourly 206 

Acceptance  renewed 207 

A  study.     Mark  chap,  i 218 

As— So 218 

As  and  So  of  the  Bible 219 

A  few  texts  for  a  sorrowful  widow. .  234 

Anxious  souls,  For 107 

A  place  for  you 227 

Action,  a  good 226 

Alsos  (three) 254 

Blindness , 108 

Blood  that  maketh  atonement,&c.  1 14,  182 

Blood,  Precious 182,  184 

Blood  of  Christ,  value  and  efficacy. .    183 

Blood  of  Christ,  The 184 

Backsliders 116,   121 

Bible,  The 88 

Books  of  the  Bible 38 

Bible  readings  7,  73 

Bible,  How  to  study  the — 9,  19,  21, 

23,  39>  85 

Bible,  How  to  read  the 33,  34 

Bible  invitations. 155 

Bible,  Reading  of  the 37 

Bible  study.  Methods  of 49 

Bible  study  5Ij  7^,  79,  81 

Bible  reading.  Consecutive 57 

Bible  reading  and  marking 59 

Bible  in  the  Inquiry  Room. 61 

Bible,     How    used    with  Christian 

workers 67 

Bible,  The  English 70 

Bible,  Key  notes  to  the  Books  of  the     79 

Bible,  How  to  use  the 256 

Bible    testimonies    about    intemper- 
ance     222 

Bible  and  Sunday  School  machinery  229 

Bible  and  childhood 229 

Beloved,  The 159 


Believer,  what  is  given,  &c 177 

Believing,  The  result  of 99 

Believer,  The  future  of  the 176 

Believer,  Attitudes  of  the 1 74 

Believer,  Life  of  the 173 

Believer,  Promises  to  the 171 

Believer's,  Blessings,  the  measure  of  1 72 

Believer's  positioa  in  Christ 170 

Believer's  walk 171 

Believer's  life  in  all  things 172 

Believer's  calling,  The 174 

Believer's  future  treasure  and  reward  176 
Believer's  standing,  The..  171,   171,   177 

Believers,  A  gift  to 176 

Believer's  peace  of  heart 178 

Believers,  Relative  duties  of 178 

Believer's  fellowship,  The  .........    185 

Believer  waits  for  three  things,  The  253 

Be  ye  followers  of  God 177 

Blessed 202 

Blessed  facts.  Four 255 

Blotted  out 202 

Balaam's  parables 222 

Blessedness  of  believers,  &c 103 

Betters  of  Hebrews 254 

Christ  Jesus,  a  Saviour 93 

Christ  Jesus  a  Saviour  to  the  utter- 
most          93 

Christ  Jesus  the  sin  bearer    93 

Christ  Jesus  our  peace 93 

Christ  Jesus  our  Saviour 97 

Christ  says 97 

Christ  the  perfect  minister    147 

Christ  Jesus  the  source  of  our  peace.     97 

Christ's  death,  Benefits  of 152 

Christ,  the  mind  of   162 

Christ  Jesvis,  The  man 149 

Christ  for  us,  to  us  and  in  us 149 

Christ  our  salvation 151 

Christ  our  life 152 

Christ,  Sevenfold  testimony  to 162 

Christ  for  his  own 152 

Christ,  Sharers  with 232 

Christ,  the  whole  armour  of  God. ...   157 

Christ,  The  preciousness  of 228 

Christ  is  all  in  all 161 

"Come  unto  Me's  "  of  Jesus 154 

Comes  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  ....     96 

Comes  of  the  Old  Testament 207 

Comes  of  the  New  Testament 207 

Comes  (seven  other) 96 

Come  97 

Come,  God's  invitation  to    99 

Cries   with   which    Christ   was   met 
(fourteen)     98 


CONTENTS. 


259 


Careless  one   121 

Cling  to  the  mighty  one  (poem)....  121 

Christian's  walk,  The 224-224,  224 

Christian  work 121,  122,  122 

Christian's  state,  The    167 

Christians,  How  to  be  like  Jesus. ...  180 

Christian's  blessedness,  The 168 

Christian's  three  R's,  The    168 

Christian's  hiding  place.  The   169 

Christian's  calling,  The    170 

Christian,  What  is  a 167 

Christian,  What  he  may  be 167 

Christian's  armour 176 

Christians    180 

Christian  unities 215 

Christian's  home  (poem) 181 

Covenant  of  God  with  his  people    . .  136 
Covenants  of  man  with  man  towards 

God     136 

Covenant,  God's    136 

Comforts  for  Christian  travellers. . . .  169 

Choose  the  things  that  please  me    . .  178 

Church,  The,  and  its  officers 218 

Consecration 180 

Confession  of  sin    207 

Confessing  Christ 159 

Chance 207 

Conversion    210-210. .  210 

Contrast  between    Christ    and    His 

people     230 

Contrasts,  Scripture- 233 

Contrast   and  similarity  of   Christ's 

Teaching 232 

Chosen     222 

Contrasts 232 

Cities  of  Refuge,  Six 254 

Dost  thou  believe   on    the    Son   of 

God  ?  92 

Door  of  mercy  will  not  always  be 

open    116 

Day  of  the  Lord,  The 160 

Days  of  heaven  on  earth 198 

Deliver 203 

Dew  Drops 208 

Divine  shall,  The 220 

Doubt 215 

Duty  to  Christ,  the  Mediator  ......  159 

Day  of  the  Lord 160 

Eternal  life,  the  gift  of  God 100 

Epistle  to  the  Philippians 149 

Established 177 

.  Everlasting 219,  229 

Eight  withouts 253 

Ecc.  ix,  14-18 219 

Furnished  for  work 85 

Forgiveness  97,  192 

Forgiveness  of  sins,  The 229 

For  whom  did  Jesus  die  ? 97 

Fool,  The Ill,  III,  III 

Fear  not 116,  227 

Fruit  bearing 134 

Father 142 


Father,  My 143 

Faithful 157 

Fellowship  with  God  and  results. . . .  185 

Fellowship  as  presented  in  i  John  . .  185 

Fellowship  with  Christ 186 

Faith 191,  192,  193,  214 

Faith  in  exercise 191 

Faith,  True,  and  its  fruits 192 

Faith,  W^hat  we  gain  by 192 

Faith,  What  we  do  by 192 

Face  shone,  Their 152 

Following  Jesus 226 

From  the  midst  of  the  cloud    201 

From  suffering  to  glory    213 

Filled 222 

Fifteen  sevens  in  Revelation    254 

Four  suppers 253 

Four  horses 255 

Four  faithful  sayings 253 

Four  precious  blesseds 253 

Five  places 253 

Five  heavenlies  in  Ephesians 253 

God  the  giver   93^  140 

God  gives  to  all 140 

God  gives  to  believers 139 

God  will  keep  you 116 

God's  description  of  His  Word  127, 

127,  128,  129,  129 

God's  description  of  the  unconverted  98 

God's  thought    135 

God's  order    228 

God's  words 96,  135 

God's  fear  nots 227 

God's  countenance,  Shining  of 136 

God's  gifts 137 

God's  unspeakable  gift 137 

God's  knowledge  of  men 140 

God's  people,  farmers 141 

God's  people,  traders '. 141 

God's  people,  pilgrims 141 

God's  eye  everywhere 143 

God's  presence 143 

God's  word,  way,  will — perfect 144 

God's  arm 232 

God's  sovereignty 144 

God,  Our    .* 134 

God's  word.  Read  orderly 48 

God,  Titles  of 135 

God  our  Rock 135 

God  himself.  Two  things  taught  by  136 

God,  The  will  of 138 

God,  Names  apostles  give   139 

God,  Twelve  thoughts  about 139 

God  is  love 136 

God  our  guide J39 

God  delivers  His  people  from 140 

God  calls  His  people  to  140 

God,  Great  things  of 139 

God,  Dependence  on  142 

God,  Deep  things  of 142 

God,  I  believe  in 142 

God,  Things  prepared  by   143 


26o 


CONTENTS. 


Great  Physician,  The 102 

Great  facts,  twelve  ,.  .118,  118,  119,  120 

Great  facts,  three 114 

Gospel  of  your  salvation 90 

Grace  abounding 147 

Grace 156 

Good  Shepherd,  The 162 

Gentleness 217 

Girded 222 

Giving 226 

Glad  tidings 227 

Golden  rules  for  Christians,  Twelve.  255 

Gifts  in  the  unspeakable  gift 137 

Glorious  state  of  heaven's  redeemed  256 

Holy  Scriptures 86 

Holy  Spirit,  what  it  does 166 

Holy  Spirit,  The 165,  166 

Holy   Spirit,    Twice   sevenfold    de- 
scription of 239 

Holy  Spirit,  Office  or  work  of 165 

Holy  Ghost,  Emblems  of 167 

Holy  Spirit,  Person  and  work  of  the  165 

Holiness 194 

Holiness  or  Sanctification 193 

Holy  living  or  self  examination  ....  195 

Holiness,  The  way  of 195 

How  to  use  the  Bible 254 

Helps  for  inquirers 97 

Helpful  passages  for  seekers 102 

Hell 114 

He  is  able 116 

Himself 151 

Hebrews,  chapters  i  and  2 158 

Heaven,  Felicity  of 197 

Heaven 197,  256 

Happiness '. . .  220 

Holdfast 220 

Holdfasts,  Nine. . .  .• 255 

Harvest   220 

Harvest  lessons 221 

Hope  of  the  Gospel,  The 222 

Henceforth 255,  256 

House  of  many  mansions 71 

Hiding  place 232 

Hitherto 255 

"I" 153 

Invitations 93 

Incentives,  The 130 

If 96 

In  our  natural  state,  &c 102 

Individual  responsibility in 

"I  wills"  of  Christ 155 

"I  ams "  of  Christ 155 

I  am  thine : 222 

Isaiah,  Thirty-fifth  chapter 220 

[nvalid's  nosegay 223 

[esus  Christ  our  sin  bearer 96 

Jesus  Christ  a  living  Saviour 97 

Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour 96 

Jesus  Christ  the  source  of  peace  ....  97 

Jesus  Christ 148,  149 

Jesus  loved  and  gave  himself 147 


Jesus  the  prince  of  peace 147 

Jesus,  Hourly  thoughts  of 150 

Jesus  the  light 152 

Jesus  sat  down,  &c 156 

Jesus  is  mine  (poem) 164 

Jesus  only  149 

Jesus  himself 150 

Just  like  Jesus   154 

Jesus :     three    commands    with    re- 
ference to  Himself 158 

Jesus,  The  cries  of 157 

Jesus,  The  words  of 154 

Jehovah-Jireh 156 

Justification   ....102,  201,  201,  201,  220 

Justified,  Being 202 

Joy  in  Him 203 

Joy  of  the  Lord,  The 203 

Joy 204,  204 

Job  xix.  8,  9,  10  210 

Judgment 223 

King,  The 145 

King,  They  saw  the  face  of  the  ....    146 
Kingdom      of     God — kingdom     of 

Heaven   197 

Lord,  The,  Jesus 225 

Lord  our  helper.  The 141 

Lord,  our  strength.  The  141 

Lord's  people.  The   144 

Lord's  hands,  The 155 

Lord,  The  right  hand  of  the   139 

Love  is  of  God  144 

Love,  In 181 

Love  of  the  Infinite  God 145 

Love — Word — Believe — Live 255 

Love  to  the  brethren 224 

Loving  hints.  Eight 254 

Look  to  Jesus,  When  to  154 

Look  to  Jesus 154 

Law  and  grace  ... 206 

Life,  The  book  of 220 

Lights — His  people 153 

Misery  requires  mercy  96 

Much  fruit 134 

Man's  responsibility 144 

Me's  of  Jesus , 153 

Manifestation  of  Christ  to  the  world 

by  His  people 180 

Meekness 217,  218 

Moon,  The,  anemblemof  the  church  218 
Mountain    gloom     and      mountain 

glory    234 

Mile  stones  on  the  way 229 

Never  man  spake  like  this  man  ....   150 

No  other  name  156 

Now 309 

Now,  The  believer's 99 

New  life  and  new  way 210 

New  things  about  the  new  name. ...  210 

New  birth  211 

New  life 212 

New 211 

Our  state  by  nature  97 


CONTENTS. 


261 


Oui  warrant  for  coming  to  Christ. .  IC9 

Our  salvation  is 103 

Our  example 159 

Our  Father 144 

One  another 187 

Overcometh,  He  that   180 

One  things  of  the  Bible 216 

One  or  the  other,  which? 216 

Opportunities,    The   131,  132 

Peace  with  God Ii6 

Peace,  False  lOO 

Peace,  God  gives  His  people 147 

Peace  202,  202,  202 

Preach — what  and  how   143 

Power 228 

Portrait  of  a  Christian  lady 169 

Promises,     Exceeding      great     and 

precious 20Q 

Promises 200,  200 

Pleasing  the  Lord 177 

Power,  The    126 

Preparation,  The  125 

Promises,  Hourly 201 

Past  and  present  of  the  children  of 

God 174 

Past,  present  and  future  228 

Precious  thought,  A 202 

Precious  things  of  Peter,  Five 237 

Partakers  of  the  Bible 186 

Partakers 187,  187 

Privileges  of  the  saints 187 

Prayer 199,  199,  200,  200 

Praise — Rejoice 204 

Prayer,   Three   things  Christ    gives 

us  in 255 

Prayer,  Jesus  the  man  of 199 

Positions  in  prayer 199 

Prayers  answered,  Six 254 

Pardon 202 

Pith  and  essence  of  gospel  in  two 

words 219 

Places,  Five  253 

Psalm  ciii 228 

Present  salvation  for  you 112 

Priesthood  of  Christ 235 

Priesthood  of  believers 236 

Pour  contempt  on  all  my  pride  ....  223 

P.ock,  Christ  the 148 

Rock,  The 148 

Piches  in  glory 173 

Remedies  for  spiritual  maladies....  208 

Ready 212 

Roll 222 

Rain 222 

Regeneration. 103,  211 

Reconciliation,  God's  way  of 98 

"Song  of  the  Redeemed ,  . . , .  104 

State  by  nature 93 

Saviour-God   89 

Sinner  and  Saviour ICX),  loi 

Soul's  cry  and  Saviour's  answer. ...  90 

Suddenly 107 


Sin,  God's  testimony  of 108 

Speaking  and  working 122 

Shepherd,  The  good 148 

Seven  solemn  questions 116,  117 

Seven  things  about  sin 252 

Seven  things  said  of  the  believer's  sins  250 
Seven    things    the    believer    should 

remember  about  the  flesh, 250 

Seven  things  about  Christ 250 

Seven  are's  in  i  Cor.  vi 251 

Seven  allusions  to  one  thing 238,  251 

Seven   reasons    for  coming    to    the 

Lord's  Supper   252 

Seven  weepings  of  Joseph  and  Israel  252 

Seven  marks  of  regeneration 241 

Seven  musts  of  the  Gospel 237 

Seven  links  in  a  wondrous  chain 224 

Seven  indispensable  things 238 

Seven  aspects  of  v/orship 238 

Seven  able's 238 

Seven  delivers 238 

Seven  rests  of  Scripture 239 

Sevenfold  view  of  God 239 

Seven  Apostolic  commandments 239 

Sevenfold  virtue  of  the  blood 240 

Seven  now's 240 

Seven  precious  things  240 

Seven  beatitudes  from  the  Psalms  . . .  241 
Seven  blesseds  of  Revelation   .  .241,  249 
Seven  mysteries  of  the   New  Testa- 
ment    242 

Seven  commands  as  to  our  speech . .  242 

Seven  daily  things 242 

Seven  questions  of  our  Lord 242 

Seven   thoughts    about    looking    to 

Jesus 243 

Seven  cries  of  the  Redeemer  on  the 

cross , 243* 

Seven  henceforths 243 

Seven  eternals  in  Hebrews 243 

Seven  beholds 242,  253 

Seven  fellowships 243 

.Seven  cups 243 

Seven  trumpets 243 

Seven  cautions 242 

Seven  one  things 245 

Seven  references  to  "the  Lamb"  in 

Revelation 244 

Seven  rocks , 244 

Seven  crowns 244 

Seven  hopes 244 

Seven  mounts 244 

Seven  assurances 244 

Seven  promises  for  seven  states  of  need  244 

Seven  togethers  .237,  245,  249,  245,  249 

Seven  withouts 245 

Seven  rewards  to  overcomers  244 

Seven  new  things 246 

Seven  two's 246 

Seven  things  that  fail  net 246 

Seven  things  about  peace 247 

Seven  things,  gifts  of  God 248 


262 


CONTENTS. 


Seven  things  to  which  we  should  take 

heed 247 

Seven  proofs  of  Christ's  Divinity . . ,  248 
Seven  offices  of  the  Spirit  in  John . .  249 

Seven  steps  of  the  wicked 237 

Seven  steps 237 

Seven  things  the  unsaved  have. ...     96 

Seven  things  the  Lord  hates   237 

Seven  things  about  peace 237 

Seven  things  that  fail 238 

Seven  things  God  did  for  Noah  ....  238 

Seven  things  to  hold  fast 238 

Seven  things  opened 239 

Seven  things  worth  having 240 

Seven  things  worth  knowing 241 

Seven  therefore's  of  Romans 238 

Seven  walks 237 

Seven  one's 237 

Sevenfold  aspect  of   the    believer's 

responsibility 242 

Sevenfold  trials  of  our  Lord  at  the 

end  of  His  earthly  life 243 

Sevenfold  consecration 244 

Sevenfold  power  of  Christ 245 

Sevenfold  measure  of  blessing 247 

Saved,  Happiness  of  the 107 

Salvation,  Assurance  of 107 

Search  the  Scriptures 86 

Separation 139 

Second  coming  of  Christ 162 

Spirit,  The 165 

Service 171 

Saint's  portion  and  inheritance.,..  176 
Suggestions  for  young  Christians ....  178 
Suggestions  to  young  Christians. ...    178 

Steadfastness 180 

Sanctification 103,  195 

Steps  in  backsliding 206 

Swarm  of  Scripture  bees 212 

Strong  in  the  Lord 213 

Such  an  offer 213 

Shall,  The,  nots  of  John's  Gospel. .  220 

Scripture  emblems 88 

St.  Paul  tells  of  His  own  conversion  228 
Study  of  Christ  as  the  model  teacher  159 

Suppers,  Four 255 

Sabbath  observance 234 

Sabbath,  The 234 

Thanksgiving,  The 216 

Things  worth  knowing 104 

Things  worth  having 105 

Three  steps  of  the  lost 253 

Three  warfares 253 

Things  worth  knowing 204 

Things  in  2  Colossians  vii 237 

Traits  of  Christian  character 181 

Truly    our    fellowship  is  with   the 

Father   189 

Twenty-third  Psalm 208 

Temptation 214 

Trumpets 214 


Trust 215,  215^  215 

Teach  me 219 

Twin  Scripture  doctrine 219 

Take  heed 223 

Tabernacle  and  its  teachings 22S 

Teachers  S.  S.  decalogue 229 

Thoughts 219 

This  great  sight 22a 

Unbelief,  Consequences  of 99 

Universal  time-table    99 

Until  He  come 164 

Voices  of  Jesus 157 

Very  short  and  very  long 235 

Vines   204 

Word,  Thy 86. 

Word    of    God,     Preciousness    and 

power  of  the 86 

Word  of  God 8& 

Word  of  God  in  effecting  salvation, 

The 87 

Word  of  God,  The 87,  88 

Word  of  God,  Preach  the 86 

What  shall  I  do  with  Christ 96 

What  God  says  of  my  sins  when  I 

trust  in  Christ lOO 

What  is  sin  ? 116 

Where  are  your  sins? 214. 

What  Christ  has  done 157 

What  Christ  is  doing 157 

What  Christ  will  do 157 

What  the  Comforter  shall  do 166 

What  we  have  by  believing  in  Christ  169 

What  we  are 205 

What  we  have 205 

Wonders,  Revelation,  Six 254 

Waiting 145 

Words,    Our 135 

What  we  know 206' 

What  weknownot 206 

What  we  have  not 206 

What  is  religion 211 

What  may  we  learn  from  the  takes 

of  the   Bible 216 

What  thinkest  thou 223 

Who  are  invited 116 

Whosoever 205 

Works,  We  cannot  be  saved  by ... .   116 

Work,  Jesus  has  finished  the 116 

Worker's  ticket 122 

Works,  Good 103 

Work,  The 122 

Worker,  The 125 

*' Wells" 204 

Wanted  for  our  country 219- 

Windows  of  the  Bible,  The 222 

Why  men  do  not  believe  in  Christ. .   no 

Why  should  we  love  Jesus 223 

Walk,  How  to 224 

Walking  with   God 225 

Winning  souls 135 

You  may  know  that  you  are  safe  . .     97 


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Being  the  outlines  of  a  few  addresses,  and  the  substance  of  conversations 
and  correspondence  with  inquirers,  and  an  exposition  of  many  difficult  passages. 


Mcintosh,  C.  H,  (''  C.  H,  M.'')    Notes  by  C.  H.  M. 

Genesis $1  oo 

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and  edifying  expositions. 
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the  Scriptures.'' 
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books,  outside  of  the  Bible  itself,  that  I  have  ever  read,  and  have  led  me  ta 
a  love  of  the  Bible  that  is  proving  an  unfailing  source  of  profit." 

Regeneration,  What  is  it  ?  52d  thousand.  Paper  Cover,  10  cts. ;  per  doz., 
75  cts.  ;  Flexible  Cloth,  25  cts. 

Addresses  by  D.  L.  Moody.  Revised  by  himself.  Containing  twelve  of  Mr. 
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book  for  r-,iculating.     Paper,  35  cts.  ;  Cloth,  60  cts. 

How  to  Study  the^JBihle,  By  D.  L.  Moodv.  Revised.  A  valuable  little 
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study  of  the  Word.  Paper  Cover,  15  cts. ;  per  doz.,  $1  25  ;  Cloth,  flexible,  25  cts. 

The  Way  and  the  Word,    By  D.  L.  Moody. 
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The  Second  Coming  of  Christ,  ByD.  L.Moody.  Revised  from  original 
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We  trust  this  pamphlet  will  be  widely  circulated,  thus  calling  attention  ta 
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Inquiry  Meetings,  By  Messrs.  Moody  and  Whittle.  Comprising  "  How 
to  conduct  Inquiry  Meetings,"  by  D.  L.  Moody,  and  "  The  Use  of  the  Bible 
in  Inquiry  Meetings,"  by  D.  W.  Whittle.  40  pages  and  cover.  Price,  15  cts.;. 
per  dozen,  $1  25. 

Pre~millennial  Essays  of  the  Prophetic  Conference.  The  full  and  author- 
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in  New  York  City. 

To  which  is  added  an  appendix  of  Critical  Testimonies,  translated  from  the 
first  scholarship  of  Germany  and  other  countries.  Issued  in  one  large  12mo. 
volume  of  500  pp.     Price,  $2  00. 

Scientific  and  Religious  Discoveries  in  the  Great  Pyramid^ 
(The)  recently  made  by  Prof.  Piazza  Smyth,  Astronomer  Royal  for  Scot- 
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To  say  that  the  facts  herein  set  forth  are  wonderful  is  far  below  the  truth. 
Many  are  so  marvelous,  and  the  deductions  from  them  are  so  important,  that 
no  Christian  can  afford  to  pass  them  by.  Many  will  reject  the  conclusions  of 
the  writer,  none  can  resist  the  facts,  and  they  should  be  known. 

Symbols  and  System  in  Bible  Reading,  By  Rev.  W.  F.  Crafts,  giv- 
ing a  plan  of  Bible  Reading,  with  fifty  verses  definitely  assigned  for  each  day. 
The  Bible  being  arranged  with  much  labor  in  the  order  of  its  events.  The 
entire  Symbolism  of  the  Bible  also  explained  concisely  and  clearly  ;  100  hints 
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True  Tabernacle f  (TJie) 

A  series  of  lectures  on  the  Jewish  Tabernacle  and  its  typical  signification. 
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Mr.  Needham's  exposition  of  these  Old  Testament  types  have  created  a 
deep  interest  in  Christian  circles.  The  present  series  of  lectures  will  prove  a 
great  help  to  Bible  students. 

Woman's  Ministry,  By  Mrs.  Geo.  C.  Needham.  A  series  of  addresses  fall 
of  practical  suggestions  and  clear  biblical  exposition.  146  pp.,  16mo  cloth, 
fine,  75  cts. 

Walking  Worthy  of  God.  A  reprint  from  the  works  of  Rev.  John  Flavel, 
with  an  introduction  by  (and  published  at  the  request  of)  D.  W.  Whittle.  A 
valuable  little  work  for  circulation.  An  incentive  to  consistent  Christian  liv- 
ing.    Sq.,  16mo.,  43  pp.,  15  cts. 


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